Perceived Benefits of Group Exercise Among Individuals With Peripheral Neuropathy

Exercise and training programs improve strength, functional balance, and prevent falls in a variety of populations. This article presents the qualitative findings related to the perceived benefits of participants in a randomized controlled trial that compared the effectiveness of group exercise on gait and balance in persons with peripheral neuropathy (PN). Participants with moderately severe PN were randomized into groups that received 10-week classes of Functional Balance Training (FBT) or Tai Chi or education alone. Perceptions of the intervention were overwhelmingly positive regardless of the study group. Perceived benefits reported by participants in the FBT and Tai Chi groups included awareness of how to deal with the effects of neuropathy by implementing balance strategies and a heightened sense of walking to prevent falls. This study offers a guide to design future exercise studies that promote simple balance exercises that can be performed in group settings.