Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a persistent cancer treatment-related side effect that negatively impacts physical functioning, falls, and quality of life. CIPN may lead to muscle weakness, loss of ankle reflexes, and impairment in balance, coordination, and gait control, which significantly increase the risk of falling and sustaining fall-related injuries. Risk of fall in cancer patients occur due to multimodal causes that occur either due to cancer itself or anti- cancer drugs, some of the side-effects that may have the upper hand in increasing risk of fall are sarcopenia, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, decrease in exercise capacity and muscle strength, decrease balance function, and physical frailty. For cancer survivors, falling and the combined effects of these risk factors have a detrimental influence on felt well-being and a substantial potential reduction in quality of life. Falls also impose significant burdens psychologically (e.g., developing anxiety and fear of falling) and economically (e.g., incurring large medical costs). Furthermore, the loss of independence following a fall and the fear of falling again can have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life. Whole-body vibration emerged as an alternative to improve neuromuscular functions and fall risk in the physical therapy field. The transmission of such mechanical vibrations to the human body causes the tonic vibration reflex (TVR), a complex spinal and supraspinal neurophysiological reaction. The TVR increases muscle activation and improves functional performance.It causes the motor units to be activated, which results in neuromuscular facilitation. This improves the patient's total functional activity and their static and dynamic balance. All these consequences are equivalent to engaging in any cumbersome exercise or difficult activity, which is impractical for these people.
This study aims to investigate the effect of Whole-body vibration on postural control, risk of falling and quality of life in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Thirty patients from both sexes were diagnosed with cancer and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. They will be selected from centre of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at El-Kasr Al-Aini Hospitals.Their ages will range from 30 to 60 years old. All patients who will be included will be on chemotherapy for at least one cycle as a treatment of malignant tumors with peripheral neuropathy. The patients will have mild to moderate neuropathy according to mTNS. All Patients should understand verbal instructions and follow the instructor. The selected patients will be assigned randomly into two equal groups (control group (A) and study group (B)).
