Although exercise can significantly reduce the prevalence and severity of diabetic complications, no studies have evaluated the impact of exercise on nerve function in people with diagnosed diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The purpose of this pilot study was to examine feasibility and effectiveness of a supervised, moderately intense aerobic and resistance exercise program in people with DPN. We hypothesize that the exercise intervention can improve neuropathic symptoms, nerve function, and cutaneous innervation. Methods A pre-test post-test design was to assess change in outcome measures following participation in a 10-week aerobic and strengthening exercise program. Seventeen subjects with diagnosed DPN (8 males/9 females; age 58.4±5.98; duration of diabetes 12.4±12.2 years) completed the study. Outcome measures included pain measures (visual analog scale), Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) questionnaire of neuropathic symptoms, nerve function measures, and intraepidermal nerve fiber (IENF) density and branching in distal and proximal lower extremity skin biopsies. Results Significant reductions in pain (−18.1±35.5 mm on a 100 mm scale, p=0.05), neuropathic symptoms (−1.24±1.8 on MNSI, p=0.01), and increased intraepidermal nerve fiber branching (+0.11±0.15 branch nodes/fiber, p=−.008) from a proximal skin biopsy were noted following the intervention. Conclusions This is the first study to describe improvements in neuropathic and cutaneous nerve fiber branching following supervised exercise in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. These findings are particularly promising given the short duration of the intervention, but need to be validated by comparison with a control group in future studies.

Background: Our knowledge of central sensitization (CS) in chronic low back pain (CLBP) is limited. 2011 fibromyalgia criteria and severity scales (2011 FM survey) have been used to determine FM positive as a surrogate of CS. The major features of CS including widespread hyperalgesia and dysfunction of the descending inhibitory pathways can be identified by pressure pain threshold (PPT) and conditioned pain modulation (CPM) tests. The purpose of the study was to examine neurophysiological characteristics and psychosocial symptoms in a subgroup of FM-positive CLBP compared with FM-negative CLBP patients. Methods: A total of 46 participants with CLBP and 22 pain-free controls completed outcome measures of the 2011 FM survey, PPT and CPM tests, and psychosocial questionnaires. Differences between FM-positive and FM-negative CLBP participants on these measures and correlations were analyzed. Results: The 2011 FM survey identified 22 (48%) participants with CLBP as FM positive. FM-positive CLBP participants showed lower PPT values of the thumbnail (P=0.011) and lower back (P=0.003), lower CPM values of the thumbnail (P=0.002), and more severe pain catastrophizing, anxiety, and depression symptoms (P<0.05) than FM-negative CLBP participants. The 2011 FM scores were significantly correlated with the PPT and CPM values of the thumbnail and with psychosocial symptoms (P<0.001). Discussion: Our findings suggest a subgroup of CLBP patients exhibiting with signs and symptoms of CS. Associations between subjective and objective CS measures indicate that the 2011 FM survey can be utilized to identify the presence of CS in CLBP in clinical practice.

Modified cutoff scores improved diagnostic accuracy for 3 of 4 fall risk assessment tools when testing people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

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A retrospective review ( n = 2,247) was conducted from July 1st to October 1st 2010 to determine validity of the Missouri Alliance for Home Care Fall Risk Assessment Tool (MAHC-10). Fall risk was identified by a MAHC-10 score ≥ 4. Two sample t test, chi-square, logistic regression, and ROC curve analyses were performed. Fallers (6.35 ± 1.7, n = 195) and nonfallers (5.70 ± 1.9, n = 2,052) had significantly different ( p = .011) MAHC-10 scores. The MAHC-10 cutoff score of 4 demonstrated 96.9% sensitivity and 13.3% specificity; however, ROC curve analyses revealed a cutoff score of 6 maximized combined sensitivity and specificity. The MAHC-10 is valid for fall risk screening in the home health setting; however, a cutoff score of 6 may more accurately predict fall risk.