We hypothesized that Tai Chi exercise intervention in a mHealth model positively affects quality-of-life improvement, glycemic control, and enhancement of life treatment in DPN patients. This study found significant HRQoL, NRS, and PSQI improvements in the intervention group at the end of 3 months and the 6-month follow-up.
Previous studies have found that exercise therapy is an essential modality for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) [25]; however, up to 78% of patients do not adhere to self-directed home exercises prescribed by exercise therapists [26]. To address the treatment burden this poses, it is essential to promote self-management solutions to remove barriers to accessing treatment. In the mHealth model, exercise interventions can be more convenient without losing precision, and we make full use of widely used smartphones and intelligent wearable devices; patients can freely choose where to exercise, and for patients with DPN, exercise guidance can be realized at home, so this is a practical and valuable study [27] [28].
Improvement in HRQoL
This study found a significant difference in overall HRQoL scores between the intervention and control groups. These improvements were sustained 3 months after the end of the intervention. A 16-week supervised aerobic exercise program significantly reduced pain in patients with DPN [29]. This is thought to result from decreased levels of advanced glycation end products and protein kinase C, which are generally increased by prolonged hyperglycemia. After completing a 15-week high-intensity interval training intervention, Hazari observed an improvement in pain in patients with DPN via the Leeds Assessment of Pain (Leeds Assessment of DPN) [30]. These studies and our findings confirm that exercise improves pain symptoms.
Improvement in Sleeping
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) improved with a mHealth intervention. These findings are consistent with a meta-analysis that showed that different types of exercise, including single and combined exercise, were associated with improvements in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [31]. Exercise's effectiveness in improving sleep may be related to its ability to reduce psychological stress (e.g., stress, anxiety, and depression) [32].
Improvement in nerve conduction velocity(NCV)
Our study found that the conduction velocities of the joint personnel and tibial nerves changed over time, but they differed in between-group effects and interactions. In addition, the latency of the tibial nerve was also affected by the time-group interaction. In contrast, the amplitude and duration of the common peroneal nerve remained stable across time points.
Few studies have examined tele-exercise interventions for DPN lower limb nerve conduction. Previous studies have shown that after aerobic exercise or aerobic exercise plus resistance exercise, the NCV improved, which is similar to our findings [33].
When NCV improves, it usually means that nerve function is recovering or regenerating. Exercise can increase microvascular circulation by promoting endothelial vasodilatation, thereby increasing endothelial blood flow. Reducing nitric oxide production also helps reduce its potential toxicity to nerve tissue. Exercise can protect nerve tissue from damage by reducing levels of oxidative stress, which in turn promotes recovery of nerve function [34].
In DPN, the opening of ATP-sensitive K + channels may be protective [35]. These channels help regulate neuronal excitability and energy metabolism, thereby potentially attenuating diabetic damage to neural tissue. Although the direct link between this mechanism and exercise's promotion of neurological recovery is not fully understood, it may indirectly promote neurological recovery by improving neuronal energy status and modulating excitability [36]. This may be the mechanism by which exercise improves NCV.
Improvement in Blood Glucose Management
The significant effect of Tai Chi in improving glycemic control may be related to its promotion of body metabolism, enhancement of insulin sensitivity, and reduction of stress response [37]. Aerobic exercise, a standard means of diabetes management, has also been found to reduce FBG levels [38]. This may be because aerobic exercise promotes blood glucose utilization primarily by increasing cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle metabolic rate [39]. In contrast, Tai Chi may work through a more comprehensive mind-body regulatory mechanism. Tsang et al. reported that insulin resistance and HbA1c did not significantly improve in patients with T2DM after practicing Tai Chi for 60 minutes daily [40]. This is slightly different from our current findings, where we found that the exercise intervention had a positive effect on FBG, which may be related to the fact that the current study enrolled a population of DPN. We believe that self-management is also enhanced when patients develop diabetic complications.
Improvement in Exercise Habits
The results showed a statistically significant difference in exercise habits between the two groups during the follow-up period (P = 0.016). Patients with DPN are often associated with neuropathic pain, such as tingling and burning pain, which can limit the patient's willingness to be active and lead to decreased exercise, making it an essential target for aerobic training interventions [41]. The use of mobile devices may improve exercise adherence. In this study, more than 90% of the participants adhered well to exercise therapy using a mobile messaging app-based program. Previous studies reported similar adherence rates for home exercise programs of approximately 50–70% [42]. We want to develop sustainable behavioral patterns for our patients to ensure they can incorporate these lifestyle changes into their daily routines. Studies have shown that remote monitoring improves patient adherence to exercise rehabilitation and that those patients whose patients were exercising before the intervention were more likely to maintain their exercise habits [43]. Similar results have been achieved in foreign studies.
Innovations in remote management of DPN
An essential component of designing an exercise program for patients with DPN is determining the intensity of the exercise. On the one hand, patients may be unsteady on their feet and at risk of falls due to abnormal sensations in the chivalry and even muscle atrophy [44]. On the other hand, this population has a higher risk of heart attack or stroke [45]. It is prone to resting tachycardia, decreased heart rate variability, exercise intolerance, and orthostatic hypotension due to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy [46]. This autonomic dysfunction can increase the risk of cardiovascular events and death by several times [47].
Therefore, Tai Chi may be a more effective and safer option for people who are less physically able, older, or have more severe peripheral neuropathy.
These preliminary findings suggest that mobile health (mHealth) exercise interventions could be a practical and scalable solution for exercise therapy for people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
Limitations
First, the small sample size made it difficult to fully confirm our opinion. Second, we did not assess the severity of DPN because this study focused on improving the quality of life of DPN rather than reducing the development of neuropathy. Therefore, our findings may not apply to patients with early DPN.