Description

This is a multicenter observational study of peripheral neuropathies patients aiming at characterizing multi-muscle synergy and at assessing the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program driven by multi-muscle synergy organization.

The study can be divided in two phases:

Phase 1 will included peripheral neuropathies patients and healthy age-matched subjects.

Peripheral neuropathies patients will be assessed with:

• Neurological assessment formalized via Total Neuropathy Score-clinical version (TNSc©)
• Nerve conduction studies
• Impact of PN on patients' quality of life using Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36)
• Functional status using Functional Independence Measure (FIM)

Peripheral neuropathies patients and healthy age-matched subjects will receive a postural evaluation recording during three different postural tasks (quiet standing, voluntary sway and shoulder flexion):

• centre of pressure (COP) displacement of force platform;
• surface muscle activation using electromyography (EMG) of 13 muscle on the right side of the body (tibialis anterior, soleus,gastrocnemius lateralis-medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and medialis, tensor fasciae latae, lumbar and thoracic erector spinae and rectus abdominis).

Phase 2 will included only peripheral neuropathies patients. Participants will be assessed at baseline, after a 20 session 2-3/w program of physical therapy and at a follow up of 3 months.

The evaluations of the first phase will be implemented with evaluation of mobility and balance using Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT), Mini Balance Evaluation System Test (MiniBESTest) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG).

        A control group of healthy subjects with the same demographic features of peripheral
        neuropathy patients wil be also included.