Comparative Effects of Perturbation-Based Balance Training on Firm Surface and Rolling Board for Diabetic Neuropathy Patients

May 13, 2026 updated by: Maryam Safdar, University of Faisalabad
The present study is designed to compare the effectiveness of perturbation-based balance training performed on two different surfaces, stable (firm surface) and unstable (rolling board), for enhancing static, dynamic, and reactive balance in individuals diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy. This randomized clinical trial will recruit a total of 42 participants, with the sample size calculated using Epi Tool software. A consecutive sampling technique will be implemented. Eligible participants who fulfill the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned into two equal groups (n = 21 each) through an online randomization method. Participants in Group A will undergo perturbation-based balance exercises on a stable surface, whereas participants in Group B will receive similar training on a rolling board to introduce surface instability. In addition to the primary intervention, both groups will receive contrast bath therapy as a standard baseline treatment. Written as well as verbal informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The intervention protocol will span four weeks, consisting of three sessions per week on alternate days, resulting in a total of twelve treatment sessions. The primary outcomes will focus on balance performance and fall risk. These outcomes will be measured using the Berg Balance Scale, the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and the Timed Up and Go test. Screening for diabetic neuropathy will be carried out using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 23.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is one of the most prevalent complications associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. It commonly presents with symptoms such as burning sensations, tingling, numbness, discomfort, and diminished sensation in the lower extremities, which significantly affect balance and functional mobility. The present study is designed to compare the effectiveness of perturbation-based balance training performed on two different surfaces, stable (firm surface) and unstable (rolling board), for enhancing static, dynamic, and reactive balance in individuals diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy. This randomized clinical trial will recruit a total of 42 participants, with the sample size calculated using Epi Tool software. A consecutive sampling technique will be implemented. Eligible participants who fulfill the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned into two equal groups (n = 21 each) through an online randomization method. Participants in Group A will undergo perturbation-based balance exercises on a stable surface, whereas participants in Group B will receive similar training on a rolling board to introduce surface instability. In addition to the primary intervention, both groups will receive contrast bath therapy as a standard baseline treatment. Written as well as verbal informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. The intervention protocol will span four weeks, consisting of three sessions per week on alternate days, resulting in a total of twelve treatment sessions. The primary outcomes will focus on balance performance and fall risk. These outcomes will be measured using the Berg Balance Scale, the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, and the Timed Up and Go test. Screening for diabetic neuropathy will be carried out using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 23.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

42

Phase

  • 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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 38000
        • Madinah Teaching Hospital and Al Mahmood Physiotherapy Clinic, Faisalabad

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%) (Bolen et al., 2016).
  • Participants with a diabetes duration of more than 10 years (Grewal et al., 2015).
  • Participants exhibiting signs and symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (such as numbness, tingling, burning, shooting or electric shock-like pain, and glove-and-stocking distribution), confirmed using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument with scores of 6-8 (patient version) and 2.5-4 (physical assessment) (Haque et al., 2022).
  • Participants aged between 40 and 75 years (Rasool et al., 2024).
  • Both male and female participants will be eligible for inclusion (Haleem et al., 2024).
  • Participants currently using insulin-sensitizing medications (e.g., metformin, Diamicron, insulin).
  • Participants who are able to stand and walk independently (Allin et al., 2020).
  • Participants with a Berg Balance Scale score ranging from 25 to 40 (Phyu et al., 2022).
  • Participants willing to provide informed consent (Lepesis et al., 2023).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) will be excluded (Daud et al., 2021).
  • Those with cognitive deficits (such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease) that may interfere with comprehension or compliance with study procedures will not be included (Hatton et al., 2019).
  • Individuals presenting with foot drop or other neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, myelopathy, or cerebellar ataxia) that could affect the study findings will be excluded (Khurshid et al., 2025).
  • Patients who have recently undergone surgery, sustained trauma to the feet or lower limbs, or have any foot amputation will not be eligible (Collings et al., 2023).
  • Individuals diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis or orthostatic hypotension will be excluded (Khurshid et al., 2025).
  • Patients with active diabetic foot ulcers or notable musculoskeletal deformities (such as scoliosis or degenerative joint disease) will be excluded (Lepesis et al., 2023).
  • Individuals with neuropathy unrelated to diabetes, including cases associated with alcohol use or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, will not be included.
  • Participants taking medications that may provoke vertigo or disturb balance (for example, aspirin) will be excluded.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A (Perturbation Based Training on Firm Surface)
Manual perturbations will be applied in four directions: right lateral, left lateral, forward, and backward. Training will be performed in progressive positions, starting from sitting, advancing to kneeling, and then to standing. Contrast bath therapy will be administered for a total duration of 20 minutes.
Other: Group A (Perturbation Based Training on Firm Surface)
Manual perturbations will be applied in four directions: right lateral, left lateral, forward, and backward. Training will be performed in progressive positions, starting from sitting, advancing to kneeling, and then to standing. Each session will include two sets of perturbation training, 5 minutes per set and a 10-second rest interval provided between successive perturbations. The intervention will be conducted three days per week on alternate days, with a total of 10 perturbations delivered per session. Total treatment time will be 45 minutes. Progression to more challenging positions will occur once the patient demonstrates adequate balance control following manual perturbations. The total duration of the treatment program will be four weeks. Contrast bath therapy will be administered for a total duration of 20 minutes. The protocol will involve immersion in cold water (60-70°F) for 1 minute followed by warm water (100-105°F) for 3 minutes, repeated for five cycles.
Active Comparator: Group B (Perturbation Based Training on Rolling Board)
Manual perturbations will be applied in multiple directions while the patient stands on a rolling board. During the procedure, the therapist will manually perturb the rolling board to challenge the patient's balance. Initially, the training will be conducted within parallel bars for safety and will later be progressed outside the bars as the patient's balance improves. The total duration of the treatment program will be four weeks. Contrast bath therapy will be administered for a total duration of 20 minutes.
Other: Group B (Perturbation Based Training on Rolling Board)
Manual perturbations will be applied in multiple directions while the patient stands on a rolling board. During the procedure, the therapist will manually perturb the rolling board to challenge the patient's balance. Each session will consist of two sets of training, with each set lasting 5 minutes and a 10-second rest interval between successive perturbations. The intervention will be performed three days per week on alternate days, with a total of 10 perturbations delivered per session. Each treatment session will last approximately 45 minutes. Initially, the training will be conducted within parallel bars for safety and will later be progressed outside the bars as the patient's balance improves. The total duration of the treatment program will be four weeks. Contrast bath therapy will be administered for a total duration of 20 minutes. The protocol will involve immersion in cold water (60-70°F) for 1 minute followed by warm water (100-105°F) for 3 minutes, repeated for five cycles.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Static and dynamic balance
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4
Static and dynamic balance will be measured using the standard Berg Balance Scale, a widely used clinical tool for assessing balance performance and fall risk. It consists of 14 functional tasks, including sitting, standing, reaching, turning, and transferring, with each item scored on a 5-point scale from 0 to 4. Higher total scores indicate better balance ability.
Baseline and Week 4

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Reactive balance
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4
The Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest) will be used to assess reactive balance and postural control. It evaluates different balance systems, including anticipatory adjustments, reactive responses, sensory orientation, and dynamic gait, through functional balance tasks.
Baseline and Week 4
Risk of Fall
Time Frame: Baseline and Week 4
The Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) will be used to assess functional mobility and fall risk. In this test, participants are timed while standing up from a chair, walking 3 meters, turning, returning, and sitting down again, with longer completion times indicating greater fall risk.
Baseline and Week 4

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Faisalabad

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Dr Maryam Safdar, MS (MSK), The University of Faisalabad

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 (Estimated)

May 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 13, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 13, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TUF/EIRB/172/26

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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