(1) Objective: Determining the effect of the training program on balance, motor function, proprioceptive sense and speed walking of patients with diabetic neuropathy
(2) Design: Parallel clinical trial
(3) Setting and conduct: Selecting 44 patients with diabetic neuropathy referring to diabetes clinic of 5 Azar tertiary hospital affiliated to Golestan university of medical sciences and assigning them to two groups of intervention and control by simple random allocation.
(4) Participants including major eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria: diabetes for at least 5 years; diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy with score greater than 2 by Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI); visual acuity of 20/ 40 by Snellen chart; normal range of motion of the hip, knee and ankle joint; ability to stand and walk; independently and without assistive devices; filling the informed consent form. Exclusion Criteria: foot ulceration and lower limb deformity; history of surgery or chronic pain in the lower extremity or low back; history of hypotension, myocardial infarction and stroke; other peripheral neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders; using drugs effective on balance during the examination to test.
(5) Intervention: Before intervention, walking and stretching to warm up the body. The, functional balance training program three times a week in 75 minutes for 8 weeks by expert in exercise science. Functional balance training program include balancing on one leg, exercises on the wobble board, ankle simple exercises (dorsiflexion and plantar flexion), static stretching of hamstring and rotated 30 degrees in a standing position and cool down at the end of the training program.
(6) Main outcome measures (variable): balance, motor function, proprioceptive sense, and speed walking, before and 48 hours after end of the study.