Effect of Balance Enhanced Exercise Program (BEEP) on Balance, Balance Confidence, and Nerve Conduction Velocity in...

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) accounts for the majority (>85%) of all DM cases; these patients have a higher risk of complications and a greater chance of acquiring chronic microvascular diseases, including diabetic neuropathy. It negatively affects the nerve function, leading to altered balance and posture, which demands a protocol to help improve both.

To study the effect of BEEP on balance, balance confidence, Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and quality of life using limits of stability (LOS), the modified Clinical Test on Sensory Interaction of Balance (m-CTSIB), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Nerve conduction study (NCS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, respectively.

The randomized controlled trial was approved by the institutional ethics committee, and informed consent was taken from all the subjects. Eighty-three individuals with diabetes, aged 40-65 years, were screened for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Questionnaire (MNSIQ) and for the risk of falling using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and 52 were included. They were randomly allocated by the chit method, and both groups received 3 weeks of intervention. Group A received the BEEP and conventional treatment, and group B received conventional treatment. The outcome measures taken pre- and post-intervention were the LOS, m-CTSIB, ABC scale, NCS, and SF-36 questionnaire.

We evaluated 53.84% females and 46.15% males with a mean age of 53 years. Paired t-test and independent t-test were applied for within-group and between-group analysis, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference seen within group A with P < 0.05 for LOS, CTSIB, ABC, NCS, and SF-36. A similar finding was seen in group B, except for NCS (P > 0.05). The between-group comparison showed a significant difference of P < 0.05, which indicated better improvement in group A in all the outcome measures.

BEEP has a significant effect on balance, balance confidence, and nerve conduction velocity in patients with DPN. Hence, it can be implemented in the treatment of DPN.