Vibrating Insole May Aid Diabetic Nerve
Damage
Specially designed vibrating insoles might improve feeling in people
with diabetes who have damaged nerves in their feet, early research
suggests.
Nerve damage in the feet is a common complication of diabetes, and as
it progresses, the waning nerve function can lead to foot ulceration
and, in severe cases, amputation.
The problem is that the nerve damage dulls pain perception, and diabetics
may be unaware of minor cuts and other irritations that can then worsen
into serious wounds. On top of this, diabetics often have poor blood
circulation, which makes wounds slower to heal and more prone to infection.
The new study, of 20 people with diabetes-related nerve damage, found
that exposing patients' bare feet to imperceptible vibration improved
sensation in the sole of the foot. The study results suggest it is possible
to treat diabetic nerve damage with shoes outfitted with specially designed
insoles, study author Dr. Aristidis Veves told Reuters Health.
However, the new study is just a "proof of concept," and more
research is needed to see whether such foot stimulation provides long-term
improvements in nerve function, according to Veves, a researcher at
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
He and his colleagues report the findings in the December issue of the
journal Diabetes Care. Two other researchers on the study are with Providence,
Rhode Island-based Afferent Corporation, which is developing vibrating
insoles for a number of medical uses.
Veves said that if vibrating insoles can boost nerve input from the
feet over the long term, they might cut the risk of foot ulceration,
as patients will be better able to perceive pain.
In addition, he noted, the devices might help prevent falls, a major
cause of bone breaks and disability in older adults. Better nerve function
in the feet could improve balance. A small study published earlier this
year showed that vibrating insoles appeared to improve balance control
in elderly adults.
SOURCE: Diabetes Care, December 2003.
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