Buerger's Exercises and Proprioceptive Drills on Postural Stability and Foot Perfusion in Elderly Patients With Chemotherapy

August 4, 2026 updated by: Ibrahim Abuzaid, South Valley University

Combined Effect of Buerger's Exercises and Proprioceptive Drills on Postural Stability and Foot Perfusion in Elderly Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Randomized Controlled Trial

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, dose-limiting side effect of neurotoxic chemotherapy agents, characterized by sensory loss, impaired proprioception, and muscle weakness, predominantly affecting the lower limbs. These impairments significantly contribute to postural instability and increase fall risk in elderly patients. Additionally, CIPN-associated microvascular changes can compromise peripheral circulation, further exacerbating neuromotor dysfunction and balance deficits.

While pharmacological options for CIPN are limited and often inadequate, exercise-based interventions have shown promise in mitigating functional impairments. Buerger's exercises, a vascular stimulation technique, are known to enhance peripheral blood flow, whereas proprioceptive drills can improve neuromuscular coordination and postural control. However, their combined effect on both postural stability and foot perfusion in elderly patients with CIPN has not been systematically studied.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Aim of the Study To investigate the combined effect of Buerger's exercises and proprioceptive drills on postural stability and foot perfusion in elderly patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

  • Objectives

    Primary Objectives:

    • To evaluate the effect of combined Buerger's exercises and proprioceptive drills on postural stability.
    • To assess their effect on foot perfusion.

    Secondary Objectives:

    • To assess changes in balance confidence, functional mobility, and fall incidence.

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  • Hypotheses

    • H1: The combined intervention will significantly improve postural stability compared to standard care.
    • H2: The combined intervention will significantly enhance foot perfusion compared to standard care.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

70

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

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

  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged 65 years or older
  • Diagnosed with CIPN for at least 3 months
  • Demonstrating impaired postural stability (BBS ≤ 48 or ≥2 falls in the past year)
  • Medically cleared for exercise
  • Cognitively intact (MMSE ≥ 24)
  • Willing and able to give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe peripheral arterial disease (ABI < 0.5)
  • Severe postural hypotension or positional syncope
  • Recent orthopedic procedures or fractures (past 6 months)
  • Vestibular or cerebellar disorders
  • Uncontrolled systemic diseases
  • Cognitive impairment (MMSE < 24)
  • Concurrent participation in another structured balance or vascular program
  • Lower limb ulcers or active infection
  • Severe visual impairment
  • Intolerance to positional exercises

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: Intervention Group

Intervention Group (35 participants) will receive

Buerger's Exercises + Proprioceptive Drills, 3 times/week for 8 weeks:

  • Buerger's Exercises:

    • Leg elevation at 45° for 2 min until blanching
    • Dependent sitting for 3 min until hyperemia
    • Supine rest for 5 min
    • 3 cycles per session
  • Proprioceptive Drills:

    • Single-leg stance
    • Tandem stance/walking
    • Heel-to-toe walking
    • Anterior-posterior and lateral weight shifts
    • Mini-squats on foam
    • Ankle alphabet
    • Progressively increased difficulty Sessions supervised by trained physiotherapists.

Buerger's Exercises + Proprioceptive Drills, 3 times/week for 8 weeks:

  • Buerger's Exercises:

    • Leg elevation at 45° for 2 min until blanching
    • Dependent sitting for 3 min until hyperemia
    • Supine rest for 5 min
    • 3 cycles per session
  • Proprioceptive Drills:

    • Single-leg stance
    • Tandem stance/walking
    • Heel-to-toe walking
    • Anterior-posterior and lateral weight shifts
    • Mini-squats on foam
    • Ankle alphabet
    • Progressively increased difficulty Sessions supervised by trained physiotherapists.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Control Group (35 participants) will receive Standard care with educational leaflets and physical activity advice.

Buerger's Exercises + Proprioceptive Drills, 3 times/week for 8 weeks:

  • Buerger's Exercises:

    • Leg elevation at 45° for 2 min until blanching
    • Dependent sitting for 3 min until hyperemia
    • Supine rest for 5 min
    • 3 cycles per session
  • Proprioceptive Drills:

    • Single-leg stance
    • Tandem stance/walking
    • Heel-to-toe walking
    • Anterior-posterior and lateral weight shifts
    • Mini-squats on foam
    • Ankle alphabet
    • Progressively increased difficulty Sessions supervised by trained physiotherapists.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postural Stability Foot Perfusion
Time Frame: Week 8
.Postural Stability: Overall Stability Index (OSI) via Biodex Balance System SD Foot Perfusion: Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF)
Week 8
Pain scale (VAS) Quality of Life Index (QLI) - SCI Version
Time Frame: 8 weeks

Pain scale (VAS) The visual analog scale (VAS) is a validated, subjective measure for acute and chronic pain. Scores are recorded by making a handwritten mark on a 10-cm line that represents a continuum between "no pain" and "worst pain." Quality of Life Index (QLI) - SCI Version

Comprised of 4 domains:

  1. Health and functioning
  2. Psychological/spiritual
  3. Social and economic
  4. Family.
8 weeks
Weight Height Body mass index
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Weight in kg, height in meter and body mass index in kg/m2
8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Secondary Outcomes
Time Frame: 8 weeks
  • Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
  • Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)
  • Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale
  • Number of falls Pain scale (VAS) Quality of Life Index (QLI) - SCI Version Follow-up (Week 8)
8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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.

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)

July 25, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 25, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 4, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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