Whole-Body Vibration Versus Kineso Tape on Nerve Conduction in Patient With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

All patients in both group received a traditional balance exercise program, 3 sessions per week, for 6 weeks. Each session of exercise comprised 10 min of warm-up, 40min of balance exercise, and 5min of cool down. Warm-up included treadmill walking. Balance exercise comprised two sets of sit to stand, one leg stance, tandem stance and 30 squats. The first set of exercises was performed on a stable surface, whereas the second set of exercises was performed on an unstable surface by using Thera band stability trainer. Each set of each exercise was performed for 3 min, with 1-2 min of rest in between the exercises. Cool-down included deep breathing, abdominal breathing, and mild stretching.

All patients in both group received a resistance exercise program, 3 sessions per week, for 6 weeks. Each patient was seated in sitting position and the weight sandbags was applied at the dorsum of the foot. The resistance was set to be around 40%-60% of the 1RM. The patient performed the exercise for 3 bouts, every bout 10 repetitions. The one repetition maximum (1RM) was established prior to the training period using the following equation: 1 RM = Weight (kg) X (1 + {0.033 X number of repetitions)}.

Patients were asked to stand barefoot on the vibratory platform with an even distribution of weight on both feet and familiarized with WBV at a lesser frequency and amplitude. Then, they were asked to bend their knee 30º to the vertical; thereafter, to obtain a greater muscular response, WBV training was performed at a frequency of 30 Hz and an amplitude of 2mm. The exercise comprised five bouts of a 30-sec vibration with a 1-min elapse between the bouts.

Kineso tape was applied to dorsiflexors 24 hours a day and was replaced every 5 days for patients who were taped in accordance with Kenzo Kase's Kinesio taping Manual. For taping, each patient's leg was placed in a relaxed position while he sat on a taping table. The skin was to be free of oils and lotions, to avoid anything that might limit the acrylic adhesive's ability to adhere to the skin. So, the subject's skin was cleaned with alcohol prior to tape application. For the Tibialis anterior, tape was measured from the muscle origin to the insertion while the muscle was stretched. The base of the tape was applied to the origin at the lateral condyle and superior 2/3 of anterolateral surface of tibia. Then the subject was asked to stretch the foot into plantar flexion and eversion; taping was then finished toward the insertion at the medial and plantar surface of medial cuneiform and base of the first metatarsal.