A review of the effect of therapeutic exercise on polyneuropathy in patients with diabetes

Abstract

The negative effect of diabetes on the microcirculation of the lower limbs and the lesions it causes in the peripheral nervous system have been documented. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) causes damage to the peripheral nerves of the limbs leading to paresthesia and other side effects. Exercise seems to have a positive effect on improving the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The aim of this literature review was to investigate the benefits of exercise in the context of physiotherapy intervention in patients with DPN.A literature search was performed in the databases PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in English with the following keywords: diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, physiotherapy interventions, therapeutic exercises. Clinical trials as well as systematic reviews were included in this review with a total of nine articles. Our results reinforce the notion that exercise has a positive effect in reducing sensory disorders and better managing the symptoms of diabetic patients with peripheral polyneuropathy. Physiotherapy interventions should integrate therapeutic exercise into treatment programs in order to achieve optimal results.