Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Cardiopulmonary and Geriatric Disorders

Background: Neuropathic diabetic foot can cause severe pain in both legs and feet, affect balance .It also affect nerves so patient can feel with tingling, burning, aching sensations that become worse at night. This pain affects patient quality of life. The purpose To compare the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation versus transcranial direct current stimulation on painful diabetic foot Methodology: Forty patients of both sex suffering from chronic neuropathic pain due to diabetic foot, with age range from 50 to 60 years old participated in this study. All patients had mean pain levels {u2265}4 out 10 on VAS, before starting the treatment. Design of the study: Patients were assigned randomly into two equal groups in numbers, group (A), received transcranial direct current stimulation. group (B), received transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Pain Intensity was assessed by neuropathy pain scale{uFD3E}NPS{uFD3F} and quality of life was assessed by neuro Qol questionaires pre and post treatment. Treatment was applied 3 times a week for 8weeks. The Results: There was a significant difference in NPS scale and neuro Qol questionaires scores in the two groups after treatment and between the two groups neuro-Qol questionaires scores post-treatment where the study showed better improvement in group (A{uFD3F} than group (B). as tDCS has direct effect on executive function and depression. Conclusion: Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation TENS are both effective in decreasing the intensity of chronic neuropathic pain in diabetic foot but tDCS is prefered as it improved patient quality of life more than TENS

Issued also as CD