The intervention effect of step walking training combined with ankle pump exercise on patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

DENG Chenghong; MAO Fang; LUO Hongyun; HUANG Jing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3768.2025.11.002

Abstract：Objective To explore the application effect of step walking training combined with ankle pump exercise in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN).Methods A total of 82 DPN patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Jiujiang between July 2023 and February 2025 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group,each of 41,according to a random number table.Both groups received conventional treatment for diabetes and ankle pump exercise intervention,while the observation group was additionally provided with step walking training.The degree of peripheral neuropathy,gait regulation ability and balance function were compared between the two groups.Results After the intervention,the peripheral neuropathy score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(t=14.927,P＜0.001),and the numbers of people with abnormal whole-foot pressure change curves,abnormal whole-foot balance curves,and abnormal plantar pressure center trajectory curves were smaller than the latter(x2=4.473,P=0.034;x2=3.989,P=0.046;x2=3.951,P=0.047).Moreover,the timing-standing test time of the former group was shorter than that of the control group(t=14.927,P＜0.001),while the single-leg standing test time with eyes closed and the single-leg standing test time with eyes open were both longer than the latter(t=-11.096,P＜0.001;t=-7.434,P＜0.001).Conclusion The application of step walking training combined with ankle pump exercise in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy can reduce the degree of peripheral neuropathy in patients,relieve abnormal gait and improve balance function.