1. Introduction
neuropathy, pain, deficit in sensory discrimination, gait disorders, diabetes
NEUROPATHY, DISEASES, PLANTAR FASCIITIS, DIABETIC FOOT, PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, DIABETES
Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of conventional proprioceptive training and games with motion monitoring on plantar tactile sensitivity in older women. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial, with 50 older women randomized into three groups: conventional proprioception (n = 17), games with motion monitoring (n = 16), and the control (n = 17). They underwent 24 intervention sessions, three times a week, for eight weeks. The conventional proprioception group performed exercises involving gait, balance, and proprioception. The games performed by the motion monitoring group included exercises using the Xbox Kinect One video game from MicrosoftAging is a natural, dynamic, and progressive process, which is accompanied by morphological, functional, and biochemical changes, and an increase in the risk of several diseases, especially those related to the feet (neuropathy, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, diabetic foot, and others) [In the somatosensory system, the peripheral nervous system can undergo changes such as the loss of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers and a decrease in nerve conduction velocity, leading the elderly to have a deficit in sensory discrimination [The changes that arise in the feet of the elderly can compromise the performance of activities of daily living, interfering negatively with posture and gait and contributing to the development of disabilities. Among these alterations is the plantar tactile sensitivity impairment, which can bring consequences such as postural instability, gait disorders such as a reduction in the balance phase, speed and step symmetry, discomfort, pain, deformities, and risk of falls, thus impairing the quality of life of the elderly [Management strategies focus on prevention, early detection, and the appropriate treatment of aging-related morbidities, reducing the socioeconomic impact, not only for the individual but also for society [Despite the relevance of the problem, there is a scarcity of studies available in the literature that is aimed at comparing the effects of different training modalities on plantar tactile sensitivity in the healthy elderly population. Some research with emphasis on proprioceptive stimulation, sensory stimulation, and active exercises have demonstrated important results in the improvement of tactile sensitivity, but these studies include older women with some clinical impairment [