Focal Vibrations and Neuropathic Pain in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Overview

Most of the literature found on whole body vibrations(WBV) instead of focal muscle vibrations (FMV) in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients. The studies found on the effects of focal vibrations could not be generalised on the huge population of diabetes mellitus (DM) induced neuropathic pain because of small sample size and due to subordinate studies i.e, pilot studies done on the focal vibrations in which 3 different modes of vibrations is used without comparing with the control group. These studies are not much valuable in literature as well as for clinical purposes due to lack of control group. As mentioned in previous studies that better results achieved with the WBV on pain in diabetic peripheral neuropathyso that the hypothesis can be made that when FMV directly applies on the focal region that may influence the pain and/or peripheral neuropathy status.

Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication associated with diabetes mellitus, affecting approximately 50-70% of patients with diabetes. The prevalence of pain and of paraesthesia were 20% and 33% 10 years after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). DPN is the leading cause for disability due to foot ulceration and amputation and significantly lowers quality of life (QoL). Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, including peripheral fibres (Aβ, Aδ and C fibres) and central neurons. Thus the prevalence of DPN and limitations of current studies make evident the need for future research.The study going to be taken with a large sample size, further testing the efficacy of FMV as a treatment for DPN and also check the detraining effects after discontinuation of therapy for 1 month so that the gaps in the literature can be full filled