NCT00223782

Motor Learning in Gait in Subjects With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 150 (estimated)
• Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs · Federal
• Sex: All
• Age: 50 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy can learn to change the way they walk in order to reduce the pressures underneath the feet, which may lead to a reduced risk of foot ulceration.

Detailed description

This study suggests that teaching a new strategy is beneficial to decrease the forefoot peak plantar pressure in individuals who are susceptible to plantar ulcerations. It has not, however, been studied whether these changes would be maintained long-term or if they had any effect on the ulceration rate. Additionally, no analysis of the amount of visual feedback necessary to elicit the desired motor pattern was discussed. It has been suggested that proprioception plays an integral role in the use of feedback to develop error-detection mechanisms by integrating visual feedback and kinesthetic variables. In the diabetic peripheral neuropathy subject population, proprioception and kinesthesia may be compromised. This may have effects on the ability of this population to maintain changes in inappropriate movement patterns. A significant portion of patients continue to develop plantar ulcers even with prescriptive footwear compliance, so gait training to change inappropriate patterns which result in the high plantar pressures may be critical to prevent ulceration. Comparisons: Two groups of subjects will receive gait training, one group will receive feedback of performance while the other will only receive training, and one control group. Comparisons will include whether plantar pressures are decreased in the training groups, and if those changes are maintained long-term.

Conditions

• Diabetes
• Peripheral Neuropathy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Gait Training with Feedback
BEHAVIORAL	Gait Training with no feedback

Timeline

• Start date: 2004-05-01
• Primary completion: 2006-09-01
• Completion: 2006-09-01
• First posted: 2005-09-22
• Last updated: 2008-03-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States