Interventions improve gait regularity in patients with peripheral neuropathy while walking on an irregular surface under low light.

Objectives: To determine which, if any, of three inexpensive interventions improve gait regularity in patients with peripheral neuropathy (PN) while walking on an irregular surface under low-light conditions.

Design: Observational.

Setting: University of Michigan Biomechanics Research Laboratory.

Participants: Forty-two patients with PN (20 women), mean age+/-standard deviation=64.5+/-9.7.

Interventions: A straight cane, touch of a vertical surface, or semirigid ankle orthoses.

Measurements: Step-width variability and range, step-time variability, and speed.

Results: Subjects demonstrated significantly less step-width variability (mean=41.0+/-1.5, 36.9+/-1.6, 37.2+/-1.3, and 35.9+/-1.5 mm for baseline, cane, orthoses, and vertical surface, respectively; P<.0001) and range (182.7+/-7.4, 163.7+/-8.3, 164.3+/-7.4, 154.3+/-6.9 mm for baseline, cane, orthoses and vertical surface, respectively; P=.0006) with each of the interventions than under baseline conditions. Step-time variability significantly decreased with use of the orthoses and vertical surface but not the cane (P=.0001). Use of a cane, but not orthoses or vertical surface, was associated with decreased speed (0.79+/-0.03, 0.73+/-0.03, 0.79+/-0.03, 0.80+/-0.03 m/s for baseline, cane, orthoses, and vertical surface, respectively; P=.0001).

Conclusion: Older patients with PN demonstrate improved spatial and temporal measures of gait regularity with the use of a cane, ankle orthoses, or touch of a vertical surface while walking under challenging conditions. The decreased speed and stigma associated with the cane and uncertain availability of a vertical surface suggest that the ankle orthoses may be the most practical intervention.