Feeling Numbness or Tingling in Your Legs? 5 Strategies to Manage Impaired Sensation

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral Neuropathy is a condition where the peripheral nerves are damaged.¹ Peripheral nerves are located outside of the brain and spinal cord.¹ Mononeuropathy, polyneuropathy, and neuritis are common classifications of peripheral neuropathy.² Mononeuropathy affects one nerve and polyneuropathy affects two or more nerves.² Neuritis is an inflammation of a nerve.² Common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are weakness, numbness, and pain including descriptions of stabbing, burning, and tingling.¹ In general these symptoms occur in your distal extremities such as the hands and feet.¹ If autonomic nerves are affected, symptoms may include heat intolerance, lack of or excessive sweating, bowel and bladder problems, and problems with managing blood pressure.¹ Peripheral neuropathy can occur for a wide variety of reasons including traumatic injuries, exposure to toxins such as being treated with chemotherapy, infection, genetics, and metabolic conditions including diabetes.¹ Medicines and various therapies including physical therapy could be helpful in improving your peripheral neuropathy symptoms.³

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

• Nerve Glides: When nerves become irritated or damaged, they like to be moved in a big space and nourished via blood flow.² Physical therapists can prescribe exercises designed to gently glide and increase blood flow to any peripheral nerves that could be causing your neuropathy symptoms.²  

• Exercise Prescription: Moderate-intensity exercise might be recommended by your physical therapist to you to improve strength and physical function.²

• Balance and Coordination Activities: Balance and coordination are often impaired in individuals with peripheral neuropathy especially if the feet are being affected.² These impairments could increase a person’s risk of falling.² Physical therapists will often work directly with you to improve any balance or coordination deficits.  

• Bracing: Bracing may be utilized to protect the injured nerve or help you move safely in your environment to accomplish everyday tasks.²

• Education: Your physical therapist is an expert in movement dysfunction and improving a person’s function. Safety, prevention of future complications, and evaluating alternative ways to perform activities of daily living or work tasks are focuses of a physical therapist’s client education.²  

Contact your health care provider if you notice any unusual tingling, weakness, or pain in your hands and feet to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. If you are looking for mobile, convenient physical therapy treatment, contact us for a free consultation!

References

¹Mayo Clinic. Peripheral neuropathy – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061

²Guide | Physical Therapy Guide to Peripheral Neuropathy. Choose PT. Published August 26, 2021. https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-peripheral-neuropathy

³Mayo Clinic. Peripheral neuropathy – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. Published 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352067