Effects of Vibro-medical Insoles with and without Vibrations on Balance Control in Diabetic Patients with Mild-to-moderate Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a total-contact insole with and without subthreshold mechanical random noise on the balance control in diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate peripheral neuropathy.Twenty diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate neuropathy was recruited to this study. A total-contact insole was prototyped and vibratory motors were embedded into it. The parameters of the center of pressure (amplitude, velocity, and phase plane portrait) were analyzed after 30-minute walks with the shoe only, the shoe with vibro-medical insole with and without vibrations in eyes open and closed condition. The center of pressure amplitude, velocity, and phase plane portrait in the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral directions were significantly decreased using a vibro-medical insole without vibration in the eyes open condition (p