Table 2 Summary of clinical evidence examining the impact of exercise on neuropathic pain
From: Exercise and Neuropathic Pain: A General Overview of Preclinical and Clinical Research
Study | Diagnosis | Condition Groups | Exercise Duration | Exercise Session (frequency and duration) | Exercise Intensity | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ziegler et al (2009)a [67] | Diabetes and myocardial infarction | NA | NA | NA | NA | Individuals who reported at least 1 h a week of leisure time sports activities year-round were at a lower risk for having neuropathic pain than those who reported less sport activity. |
Kluding et al. (2012) [69] | Diabetes and metabolic syndrome | Combined (AET and RT) | 10 weeks | 3–4 days/week 30–50 min AET 2–4 days/week RT 1–2 days/week 10–20 reps | Moderate (50–70% VO2max) | ↔ Current pain ↔ Usual pain ↓ Worst pain over the past month ↑ Intraepidermal nerve fiber branching |
Hamed and Raoof (2014) [70] | Diabetes and obesity | Aerobic | 15 weeks | Moderate 3 days/week 50 min HIIT 3 days/week 20 min | Moderate (50–60% MHR) Vigorous (85–95% MHR) | ↓ Pain for HIIT compared to moderate intensity |
Yoo et al. (2015) [71] | Diabetes | Aerobic | 16 weeks | 3 days/week 30–50 min/day | Moderate (50–70% VO2 reserve) | ↔ Pain intensity ↓ Pain interference |
Chiang et al (2016)a [68] | Diabetes | NA | NA | NA | NA | Participants who reported 30 min or more per day of exercise had lower odds of having neuropathic pain compared to those who reported less than 30 min per day of exercise and those who reported no exercise. |
Nadi et al. (2017) [72] | Diabetes | Vitamin D only Vitamin D + combined (AET and RT) | 12 weeks | 3 days/week 60 min/day | Moderate (AET 50-70% MHR RT 50% 10-RM) | ↓ Pain |
Stubbs Jr. et al. (2019) [73] | Diabetes | Health education Aerobic Resistance Combined (AET and RT) | 12 weeks | Health Education: 12 sessions Exercise: 3 days/week 30–45 min/day | Moderate (60–90% VO2peak) | ↔ Vibration detection threshold (all programs) ↔ Cooling detection threshold (all programs) ↔ Heat pain threshold (all programs) |
Cox et al. (2020) [74] | Diabetes | Usual care Combined (AET and RT) Combined HIIT (AET and RT) | 8 weeks | Combined: 4 days/week 52.5 min/day Combined HIIT: 3 days/week 26 min/day | Moderate (55–69% HRpeak; fairly light to somewhat hard) Vigorous (85–95% HRpeak; very hard) | ↓ Musculoskeletal pain (combined HIIT only) ↔ Neuropathy symptoms (all conditions) ↔ Cooling detection threshold (all conditions) ↔ Warm detection threshold (all conditions) ↔ Vibration detection threshold (all conditions) ↔ Mechanical detection threshold (all conditions) ↔ Vibration detection threshold (all conditions) ↔ Pressure pain threshold (all conditions) |
Wonders et al. (2013) [75] | CIPN | Home-based combined (AET and RT) | 10 weeks | AET: 2–5 days/week 10–30 min/day RT: 3 days/ week | Moderate (55–65% MHR) | ↓ Pain |
Dhawan et al. (2019) [76] | CIPN | Usual care Home-based (RT and balance) | 10 weeks | RT & Balance 7 days/week 30 min/day | Not indicated | ↓ Pain (RT and balance) |
Mols et al. (2015)a [66] | Colorectal cancer survivors | NA | NA | NA | NA | There were fewer people who reported aching/burning pain, trouble handling small objects, pain, trouble standing/walking, weakness, cramps, and loss of strength in their hands in individuals who had chemotherapy and met the national PA guidelines compared to individuals who had chemotherapy and did not meet the national PA guidelines. |
Maharaj et al. (2018) [77] | HIV distal symmetrical polyneuropathy | Control: HIV education Aerobic Resistance | 12 weeks | 3 days/week 30 min/day | Low–moderate (AET 40–65% MHR RT 40–65% 1-RM) | ↓ Pain intensity (AET; RT) |