Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus, affecting up to 73% of individuals with the disease. This progressive condition impairs sensory and motor nerves, causing neuropathic pain, numbness, balance issues, and muscle weakness, which limit physical activity, increase fall risks, and lead to psychological challenges like depression and social isolation. These deficits reduce quality of life and are associated with complications like foot ulcers and amputations. Despite its growing prevalence, particularly in developing countries, effective rehabilitation strategies remain unclear. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews on rehabilitation approaches for DPN, providing a comprehensive overview of outcomes, challenges, and gaps in the literature.

This umbrella review was reported in alignment with the reporting checklist for umbrella reviews. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses published up to January 2025 were identified through comprehensive searches of ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, and Web of Science. The methodological quality of the included reviews was appraised using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) tool. Findings were synthesized into key themes related to rehabilitation strategies for DPN.

From an initial pool of 160 studies, 14 systematic reviews were selected and analyzed, highlighting significant improvements in pain management, balance, gait, muscle strength, and quality of life for individuals with DPN. Exercise-based interventions, such as strengthening and Tai Chi, consistently emerged as the most effective, while technologies like virtual reality showed potential. Identified themes included balance and fall prevention, functional rehabilitation, and pain management. However, gaps in multidisciplinary integration and standardized protocols persist, highlighting the need for further research.

Rehabilitation strategies, particularly exercise-based interventions, demonstrate substantial promise for managing DPN. Emerging technologies offer innovative opportunities but require further study. These findings highlight the importance of refining rehabilitation approaches to improve outcomes and enhance the quality of life for individuals with DPN.