Effect of Multicomponent Balance Training With Sensorimotor Foot Mobilization on Gait Adaptability and Functional...

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of long-standing diabetes mellitus that leads to progressive sensory loss, proprioceptive deficits, and distal muscle weakness. These impairments collectively contribute to reduced balance, altered gait patterns, decreased functional mobility, and an increased risk of falls, ultimately affecting independence in daily activities. This case report presents the rehabilitation of a 58-year-old female diagnosed with DPN who reported bilateral plantar numbness, instability while walking, and difficulty performing routine functional tasks due to frequent imbalance. Following a comprehensive clinical assessment, an individualized physiotherapy program was designed with a focus on multicomponent balance training combined with sensorimotor foot mobilization. The intervention emphasized plantar sensory stimulation, postural control exercises under varying support conditions, task-specific gait retraining, and progressive functional mobility activities to enhance movement confidence and safety during ambulation. Two primary outcome measures were used to evaluate progress: the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), assessing gait adaptability and dynamic balance during functional walking tasks, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, used to determine functional mobility and fall risk. After six weeks of structured rehabilitation, the patient demonstrated improvement in both outcomes. The DGI score improved from 15/24 to 21/24, while the TUG time decreased from 16.8 seconds to 11.9 seconds, indicating improved gait adaptability and functional mobility. This case describes improvements following an early, individualized, and task-specific physiotherapy rehabilitation program in a patient with DPN.