On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus

Exercise is a cornerstone of diabetes management, but the onset of diabetic foot disease (DFD) can significantly limit its implementation. Meanwhile, physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing DFD through various mechanisms, and emerging evidence also supports the role of...

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Main Authors: Edyta Sutkowska, Anna Korzon-Burakowska, Karolina Biernat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1752
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author Edyta Sutkowska
Anna Korzon-Burakowska
Karolina Biernat
author_facet Edyta Sutkowska
Anna Korzon-Burakowska
Karolina Biernat
author_sort Edyta Sutkowska
collection DOAJ
description Exercise is a cornerstone of diabetes management, but the onset of diabetic foot disease (DFD) can significantly limit its implementation. Meanwhile, physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing DFD through various mechanisms, and emerging evidence also supports the role of exercise in managing the active phase of the condition. Appropriately tailored PA offers both local and systemic benefits—even in clinical contexts where foot offloading is recommended. The research indicates that selected exercises can be safely incorporated into care plans, providing therapeutic effects without compromising wound healing. Drawing from current knowledge based on basic science, clinical research, and relatively general recommendations, this article summarizes the local and systemic effects of properly selected exercises in patients with DFD. It explains the underlying mechanisms and briefly discusses practical examples, integrating the most recently published findings.
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spelling doaj-art-9d2371c174c04456a07f28c73e7a48232025-08-20T03:02:58ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137175210.3390/biomedicines13071752On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to ConsensusEdyta Sutkowska0Anna Korzon-Burakowska1Karolina Biernat2Department of Clinical Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska Str. 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Clinical Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska Str. 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandExercise is a cornerstone of diabetes management, but the onset of diabetic foot disease (DFD) can significantly limit its implementation. Meanwhile, physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce the risk of developing DFD through various mechanisms, and emerging evidence also supports the role of exercise in managing the active phase of the condition. Appropriately tailored PA offers both local and systemic benefits—even in clinical contexts where foot offloading is recommended. The research indicates that selected exercises can be safely incorporated into care plans, providing therapeutic effects without compromising wound healing. Drawing from current knowledge based on basic science, clinical research, and relatively general recommendations, this article summarizes the local and systemic effects of properly selected exercises in patients with DFD. It explains the underlying mechanisms and briefly discusses practical examples, integrating the most recently published findings.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1752diabetic foot diseaseexercisephysical activitydiabetesfoot offloading
spellingShingle Edyta Sutkowska
Anna Korzon-Burakowska
Karolina Biernat
On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
Biomedicines
diabetic foot disease
exercise
physical activity
diabetes
foot offloading
title On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
title_full On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
title_fullStr On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
title_full_unstemmed On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
title_short On the Merits of Targeted and Individualized Physical Exercise in Persons with Diabetic Foot Disease—From Controversies to Consensus
title_sort on the merits of targeted and individualized physical exercise in persons with diabetic foot disease from controversies to consensus
topic diabetic foot disease
exercise
physical activity
diabetes
foot offloading
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1752
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AT karolinabiernat onthemeritsoftargetedandindividualizedphysicalexerciseinpersonswithdiabeticfootdiseasefromcontroversiestoconsensus