The Effect of Foot and Ankle Exercise on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy

March 2, 2026 updated by: Ülkü Görgülü Polat, Gazi University
The study will be carried out to determine the effect on pain and quality of life between the groups that received and did not receive foot and ankle exercise training.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

In the literature, in patients with diabetic neuropathy who received foot and ankle exercise training; It is observed that it reduces the level of pain and increases the quality of life. Foot and ankle exercise training given to the participants improved blood circulation, improved foot-ankle range of motion, increased foot muscle strength and function, improved diabetic neuropathy symptoms, redistributed plantar pressure during movement, improved sensitivity, and was effective in maintaining balance; It is thought that participants can reduce pain and improve their quality of life with foot and ankle exercise training. While there are studies examining the effect of non-pharmacological interventions such as spa treatment and pulse electromagnetic field therapy in patients with diabetic neuropathy in our country, no study has been found examining the effect of foot and ankle exercise training on pain and quality of life in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain. It is thought that the results of the research will be beneficial in symptom management and improve quality of life in addition to pharmacological treatment.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 18 years and over,
  • Having been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes for at least one year,
  • Diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy for at least 6 months by EMG by a neurologist,
  • Individuals with diabetes mellitus with neuropathic pain who score 12 or higher on the S-Lanns (Self-Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Sign) pain scale,
  • Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) value to be at least 1,
  • Receiving medical treatment for diabetic neuropathy,
  • Did not receive physical therapy and non-pharmacological treatment during the research period,
  • Having no physical and mental problems that will prevent communication,
  • Having blood glucose meters at home,
  • Individuals with smart device use,

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Peripheral vascular complications due to diabetes or another etiology,
  • Having a history of surgery on the knee, ankle and hip and indication for surgery during the intervention period,
  • Those who cannot communicate on the phone (with hearing problems),
  • Having nephropathy, retinopathy and diabetic foot,
  • Neurological diseases (stroke, cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy) and serious musculoskeletal problems (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis)
  • Neurocognitive disorder (Alzheimer's disease, dementia),
  • Not taking any physical therapy during the intervention period,
  • Patients with deep vein thrombosis, femur fractures, surgical conditions, open wounds

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: intervention group
The intervention group received training by sending foot and ankle exercise videos to their mobile phones via WhatsApp.
Other: foot and ankle exercise

Foot and Ankle Exercise Phase

  1. Pulling the foot upwards from the ankle
  2. Bending the foot down from the ankle
  3. Spreading the feet like a fan, moving the toes in and out to the right and left
  4. Circle drawing exercise with ankle
  5. Towel folding exercise
  6. Bottle rolling exercise under the feet (The water in the bottle will be warm tap water)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in pain level at 4th and 8th weeks compared to baseline.
Time Frame: Two months
Pain scores of the patients were checked after foot and ankle exercise training. The scale, developed by Price, McGrath, Rafii, and Buckingham, is a measurement tool that evaluates pain severity. The scale is 10 cm long and is graded on a horizontal line (0 = no pain, 10 = most severe pain). The patient is asked to mark a point on this line that corresponds to the intensity of pain he feels. The marked numerical value indicates the severity of the patient's perception of pain. A VAS value of 1 to 4 indicates mild pain, 5-6 indicates moderate pain, and 7-10 indicates severe pain. As scores increase, the level of pain worsens and general health deteriorates.
Two months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Effect of neuropathic pain on quality of life at 4 and 8 weeks change from initial state
Time Frame: Two months
After the interventions, the patient's scores on the effect of neuropathic pain on quality of life are checked. Poole, Murphy, and Nurmka (2009) developed a questionnaire on the impact of neuropathic pain on quality of life. The scale consisting of 42 items; symptoms were divided into 6 subscales under the headings of relationships, psychological, social activity, physical activity, and personal/self care. The results of the questionnaire on the effect of neuropathic pain on the quality of life were calculated by summing the 42-item scores. The total score range is between 42 and 210. The score range for each item is between 1 and 5.
Two months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Gazi University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Ülkü Polat, Prof., Gazi University
  • Principal Investigator: Selin Çiftçi, Gazi University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 4, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 29, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 14, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 1, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 4, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 4, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Gaziüniversite

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

all IPD underlying results in a publication

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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