Comparison the effects of two types of therapeutic exercises Frenkele vs. Swiss ball on the clinical balance measures in patients with type II diabetic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: The number of diabetic patients is increasing in the world. Peripheral neuropathy is the most important problem of diabetes. Neuropathy eventually leads to balance impairment which is the main cause of falling down in these patients However, not sufficient evidences available to compare different protocols for improving balance in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of two therapeutic exercises on clinical balance measures in patients with type II diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

METHODS: The study was performed on 60 patients with diabetes categorized randomly into three groups: an intervention group (N=20) that received ball training exercise, another intervention group (N=20) that received Frenkel exercise and a control group (N=20) that received no interventions. Exercise training session was performed for 3 weeks. Then, clinical balance measures were computed in the three groups. Paired t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the collected data.

RESULTS: Both types of therapeutic exercise programs significantly improved balance in single leg stance, star excursion test, and Berg balance scale test (P˂0.05) compared to the control group. Besides, this was more significant in the ball training group (P˂0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: To improve balance in diabetic neuropathy, Swiss ball exercise is preferred compared to Frenkel training.