Effect of whole body vibration on ankle joint proprioception and balance in patients with diabetic neuropathy

Introduction: One of the most common manifestations of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is postural impairment and proprioception deficits. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is a relatively new somatosensory stimulation, the effects of which on balance and proprioception in patients with diabetic neuropathy have not been adequately studied. This study aimed to investigate the effects of WBV on balance and proprioception of the ankle joint in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 30 patients with diabetic neuropathy who were enrolled based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups (15 patients in each group). The WBV group was subjected to WBV with a frequency of 30 Hz and an amplitude of 2 mm for 6 weeks and twice a week. Postural stability, balance indices, and ankle proprioception were measured before and after the intervention with the Biodex Balance System, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer, respectively. Results: The results of this study showed that the static and dynamic postural stability indices in different axes with eyes open showed a significant improvement in the intervention group (except for the dynamic stability index of the mediolateral axis). The repositioning error angle also showed a significant decrease in the maximum inversion minus 5 °. But the BBS and repositioning error angle at 15 ° inversion did not change significantly after 6 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: WBV can improve postural stability and ankle position sense in people with diabetic neuropathy. Clinical improvements in functional balance were also observed in these patients. WBV may be suggested to prevent progressive balance changes in diabetic patients.