OBJECTIVE: External muscle stimulation (EMS) of the thighs was previously shown to have beneficial effects in a pilot study on painful diabetic neuropathy. However, differential effects on specific symptoms of neuropathy as well as determinants of treatment response have not been described. DESIGN: Ninety-two type 2 diabetes patients with different neuropathic symptoms were included in a prospective uncontrolled trial. Patients were treated twice a week for 4 weeks. Symptoms were graded on numeric scales at baseline, before the second and the eighth visit. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of the participants reported marked improvement of symptoms. Subjective treatment response was positively and independently associated with symptom intensity but independent of disease extent, metabolic factors, age, or gender. Total symptoms graded by patients on numerical scales decreased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment. Patients in the upper tertile of symptom intensity showed significant improvement of paresthesia, pain, numbness and most pronounced for burning sensations and sleeping disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: In an uncontrolled setting, EMS seems to be an effective treatment for symptomatic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially in patients with strong symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: External muscle stimulation (EMS) of the thighs was previously shown to have beneficial effects in a pilot study on painful diabetic neuropathy. However, differential effects on specific symptoms of neuropathy as well as determinants of treatment response have not been described. DESIGN: Ninety-two type 2 diabetespatients with different neuropathic symptoms were included in a prospective uncontrolled trial. Patients were treated twice a week for 4 weeks. Symptoms were graded on numeric scales at baseline, before the second and the eighth visit. RESULTS: Seventy-three percent of the participants reported marked improvement of symptoms. Subjective treatment response was positively and independently associated with symptom intensity but independent of disease extent, metabolic factors, age, or gender. Total symptoms graded by patients on numerical scales decreased significantly after 4 weeks of treatment. Patients in the upper tertile of symptom intensity showed significant improvement of paresthesia, pain, numbness and most pronounced for burning sensations and sleeping disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: In an uncontrolled setting, EMS seems to be an effective treatment for symptomatic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, especially in patients with strong symptoms.
Authors: Gaurav Thakral; Paul J Kim; Javier LaFontaine; Robert Menzies; Bijan Najafi; Lawrence A Lavery Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2013-09-01
Authors: Michael D Staudt; Tarun Prabhala; Breanna L Sheldon; Nicholas Quaranta; Michael Zakher; Ravneet Bhullar; Julie G Pilitsis; Charles E Argoff Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2020-08-28
Authors: Angelika Bierhaus; Thomas Fleming; Stoyan Stoyanov; Andreas Leffler; Alexandru Babes; Cristian Neacsu; Susanne K Sauer; Mirjam Eberhardt; Martina Schnölzer; Felix Lasitschka; Felix Lasischka; Winfried L Neuhuber; Tatjana I Kichko; Ilze Konrade; Ralf Elvert; Walter Mier; Valdis Pirags; Ivan K Lukic; Michael Morcos; Thomas Dehmer; Naila Rabbani; Paul J Thornalley; Diane Edelstein; Carla Nau; Josephine Forbes; Per M Humpert; Markus Schwaninger; Dan Ziegler; David M Stern; Mark E Cooper; Uwe Haberkorn; Michael Brownlee; Peter W Reeh; Peter P Nawroth Journal: Nat Med Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 53.440