Physiotherapy Intervention for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Physical Therapy
• Diabetology

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) represent a significant complication of diabetes, necessitating effective management strategies.
• Understanding the role and scope of physical therapy in DFU care is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
• Existing literature on physical therapy interventions for DFUs requires systematic investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the scope, nature, and extent of published literature on physical therapy interventions for adults with diabetic foot ulcers.
• To identify common physical therapy modalities and their application in DFU management.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library) up to June 30, 2024.
• Included studies focused on physiotherapy interventions for adult DFU patients.
• Excluded were opinion articles, protocols, abstracts, and studies lacking physical therapy details.

Main Results:

• Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria, with eleven focusing on outpatient physical therapy.
• Outpatient interventions included gait instruction, stretching, resistance training, and aerobic exercise.
• Inpatient interventions focused on early postoperative exercise and activities of daily living, with efficacy measured by wound healing, pressure reduction, and functional parameters.

Conclusions:

• Outpatient physical therapy may help prevent DFU progression and preserve physical function in stable cases.
• Standardized protocols for intervention timing, intensity, and wound severity are currently lacking.
• Physical therapy interventions for DFUs should be cautiously tailored to individual patient conditions.