Effect of Brain Gym® Exercises on Balance and Risk of fall in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

Background: Wider stance and significant slower speed of walking is characteristic feature diabetic individuals. These gait abnormalities of diabetic patients are 15 times more likely to report experiencing a fall related injury during walking. Objectives: To study the effect of Brain Gym® exercises on balance & risk of fall in patients with diabetic neuropathy. Method: in this study, 15 individuals between 40-90 years of age, an inclusion criterion was diagnosed diabetic neuropathy and who have positive findings in Michigan Neuropathy screening instrument scale (MNSI). Subjects scoring more than 24 on Mini Mental State Examination scale. An exclusion criterion was subjects with diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease. Subjects with balance issues due to previous injuries. Patients with severe impairment of walking or balance. Brain Gym® exercises were given to them as intervention for 2 weeks thrice in a week 30 min and balance and risk of fall were assessed on first and last day of their program. Result: This study signified that both balance (p-value <0.0001) and risk of fall was statistically and clinically significant (p-value <0.0001). Conclusion: There is significant effect of Brain Gym® exercises on balance and risk of fall in patients with diabetic neuropathy.