A New Modality for Reducing Moderate-to-severe Neuropathy Symptoms Using Precision Therapeutic Vibration

Research Objectives: To quantify changes in self-perceived neuropathy symptoms after receiving precision therapeutic vibration

Design: Before-after intervention with subjects serving as their own controls

Setting: Independent living community

Participants: 31 residents aged 55+

Interventions: Two 10-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks consisting of robotic-assist leg presses with therapeutic vibration performed using the auto-dosing protocol on a VibeTech 3 (VibeTech - Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA)

Main Outcome Measures: We applied the Numeric Rating Scale to Neuropathy Symptoms (pain, numbness, and tingling). Results were analyzed for those experiencing moderate-to-severe symptoms (a score of 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale).

Results: Ten (10) of 31 participants experienced moderate-to-severe neuropathy symptoms before each treatment and averaged a 40.8% reduction immediately after the treatment (p=0.0101) [Mean Score: before = 5.2 (SD=1.2); after = 3.1 (SD=2.1)]. Symptoms remained improved for at least 1 day after 81.5% of the sessions. Nine (9) of 10 participants analyzed experienced a reduction in neuropathy symptoms; 1 participant did not experience a significant change.

Conclusions: This study confirms that a single dose of precision therapeutic vibration applied through a robotic-assist leg press device reduces self-reported neuropathy symptoms with effects typically lasting for more than 1 day.

Author(s) Disclosures: Jeff Leismer is an owner of the company that performed this research (VibeTech), he receives a salary, and he is inventor of the technology used.
Deb Jacoby is an owner of VibeTech and receives a salary.