In a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine , researchers examine the potential of neuromuscular training to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Study: Preventive Effect of Neuromuscular Training on Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial . Image Credit: nimito / Shutterstock.
com CIPN, a frequent side effect of chemotherapy treatment, causes loss of feeling, tingling, dysesthesia, pain, and balance, which subsequently leads to unsteady walking and falls. Dose reductions, treatment delays, or medication termination, all of which can be used to mitigate CIPN, can negatively impact the survival of cancer patients. To date, there is no effective preventative against CIPN.
Nevertheless, exercise and neuromuscular stimulation therapies, such as whole-body vibrations (WBV) and sensorimotor training (SMT), have successfully addressed the sensory and motor symptoms of CIPN and reduced the frequency of falls and injuries. The current study included adults receiving chemotherapeutic agents like vinca alkaloids or oxaliplatin in Germany. Study participants were recruited between May 2014 and November 2020, and all data were analyzed through June 2021.
Any individuals with pre-existing neuropathy, previous therapies, contraindications for WBV, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular disease within six months before study initiation were excluded from the analysis. Study participants were randomized to the SMT, WBV, or.