1School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, United States of America.
2College of Education, Department of Health, Physical Education & Recreation, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008. United States of America.
3Department of Occupational Therapy, Spalding University, Louisville, KY, 40203. United States of America.
The therapeutic effects of Monochromatic Infrared Photo-Thermal Energy (MIRE) were studied on 20 patients with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). The Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament 5.07 (SWM 5.07), Wong-Baker Faces Numerical Pain Scale, and Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) were used in data collection. The results showed a significant improvement in sensation, balance, and a reduction in pain on both lower extremities. The results of this pilot study suggests that MIRE therapy may have contributed to a reduction in pain, improvement in sensation, and an increase in balance function in participants with DPN. The implications for rehabilitation therapies are that such improvements may carry over to increased independence in every day functional tasks, functional mobility, and quality of life.
Monochromatic Infrared Photo-Thermal Energy (MIRE), Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN), Wong-Baker Pain Scale, Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament (SWM), Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)
