Cold Laser, Low Level Laser, Anodyne… Bogus for Neuropathy

Does anodyne light therapy improve peripheral neuropathy in diabetes? A double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized trial to evaluate monochromatic infrared photoenergy. Lavery LA, Murdoch DP, Williams J, Lavery DC. Diabetes Care. 2008 Feb;31(2):316-21. AbstractOBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of anodyne monochromatic infrared photo energy (MIRE) in-home treatments over a 90-day period to improve … Read more

Calorie Restriction Prevents Peripheral Nerve Damage

Lifelong calorie restriction alleviates age-related oxidative damage in peripheral nerves. Opalach K1, Rangaraju S, Madorsky I, Leeuwenburgh C, Notterpek L. Rejuvenation Res. 2010 Feb;13(1):65-74.  AbstractAging is associated with protein damage and imbalance in redox status in a variety of cells and tissues, yet little is known about the extent of age-related oxidative stress in the peripheral nervous … Read more

EMS Effects the Brain as well as Muscles

Functional MRI determination of a dose-response relationship to lower extremity neuromuscular electrical stimulation in healthy subjects. Exp Brain Res. 2003 May;150(1):33-9. Epub 2003 Mar 27. Smith GV1, Alon G, Roys SR, Gullapalli RP. AbstractAlthough empirical evidence supports the use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) to treat physical impairments associated with stroke, the mechanisms underlying the … Read more

EMS Decreases Pain, Numbness, Burning, and Improves Sleep with Neuropathy

External electric muscle stimulation improves burning sensations and sleeping disturbances in patients with type 2 diabetes and symptomatic neuropathy.  Pain Med. 2009 Mar;10(2):413-9.  Humpert PM, Morcos M, Oikonomou D, Schaefer K, Hamann A, Bierhaus A, Schilling T, Nawroth PP. OBJECTIVE: External muscle stimulation (EMS) of the thighs was previously shown to have beneficial effects in … Read more

Electric Muscle Stimulation Better than TENS for Neuropathy

Effective treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy by high-frequency external muscle stimulation. Diabetologia. 2005 May;48(5):824-8.  Reichstein L, Labrenz S, Ziegler D, Martin S. Abstract AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Diabetic distal symmetrical sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) affects 20-30% of diabetic patients. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and electrical spinal cord stimulation have been proposed as physical therapies. We performed a controlled, … Read more

Electric Stimulation Complementary with Drug Treatment for Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Effectiveness of electrotherapy and amitriptyline for symptomatic relief. Diabetes Care. 1998 Aug;21(8):1322-5. Kumar D, Alvaro MS, Julka IS, Marshall HJ. From the study: Abstract OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy of combining electrotherapy with amitriptyline for the management of chronic painful peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:Patients (n = … Read more

Electric Stimulation Decreases/Eliminates Painful Neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy: amelioration of pain with transcutaneous electrostimulation. Diabetes Care. 1997 Nov;20(11):1702-5. Kumar D, Marshall HJ. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrotherapy for chronic painful peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy were randomized to the electrotherapy … Read more