Relationship between Proprioception and Risk of Falling in Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropa-thy (CIPN) is an adverse effect of cancer treatment that results in sensory impairment and, in severe cases, can also result in further motor manifestations, including cramping, weakness, and/or wasting of the muscles. Proprioception is essential for maintaining joint stability during movement. Thus, proprio-ceptive impairment may be a predisposing factor for postural instabilities and a higher likelihood of falling. Aim of Study: To investigate the relationship between pro-prioception impairment and the risk of falling in CIPN patients. Subjects and Methods: Seventy-five patients with patho-logic diagnoses of cancer and CIPN from both sexes with ages varying between 40 and 60 years old were included in this study. Patients were diagnosed based on careful clinical eval-uation by the neurologist and nerve conduction study (NCS) and recruited from the Centre of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital. Proprioception was measured by a joint position reproduction (JPR) test using a digital in-clinometer at 10° dorsiflexion (DF), 11° and 25° planterflexion (PF) in eye open position (EOP) and eye closed position (ECP), and the risk of falling was measured by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Functional Reach Test (FRT). Results: There were non-significant correlations between risk of falling (TUG, FRT tests) and joint position error (JPE) at all angles in EOP and ECP except a weak positive significant correlation between TUG and JPE (at 10º DF of the right side in ECP and at 25° PF of the left side in ECP) and a weak negative significant correlation between FRT and JPE (at 10° DF of the right side in EOP and at 25° PF of the left side in EOP and ECP respectively). Conclusion: There is a weak relationship between pro-prioception impairment and the risk of falling in patients with chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy.