Background: Diabetic neuropathy is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus, which mainly affects lower limbs in patients with diabetes. Thus, taking into consideration, the debilitating effects of diabetic neuropathy, is advocated for these individuals to prevent further deterioration. There is meager literature supporting the effectiveness of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) in individuals with diabetic neuropathy.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of gait training exercises and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation on balance and gait in diabetic neuropathic individuals.

Method: A total of 40 diabetic patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group I (Gait Training Exercise Group) and Group II (PNF Group). The study was conducted for 8 weeks. The subjects followed up with a therapist for a 30-minute session twice a week. Each participant underwent a clinical evaluation on the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Berg balance scale (BBS), Tinetti, and at day 1 and the end of the 8th week.

Result: The result showed that both the Gait training exercises and PNF were effective in improving the gait and balance of diabetic neuropathy patients. After eight weeks of intervention, there was a statistically significant difference between the gait training and PNF treatment group based on the scores of BBS, p = 0.02. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores of TT of the gait training group and PNF treatment group p = 0.07. Based on the scores of DGI, there was a statistically significant difference between of gait training group and the PNF treatment group

Conclusion: PNF is more effective than Gait training in improving the clinical measures of balance and gait in patients with diabetic neuropathy.

Keywords: Balance, Diabetic neuropathy, Exercise, Functional Training, Type 2 diabetes