Submitted by Penrose Physical Therapy
What Is Peripheral Neuropathy? Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves that carry signals between your spinal cord and the rest of your body become damaged or irritated. These nerves allow you to feel temperature, touch, and pain, and they help control muscle movement and balance. When they are not functioning properly, communication between your brain and body is disrupted. Over time, this can affect how you walk, stand, sense the ground beneath you, and respond to changes in your environment. This can be a very discouraging diagnosis and we at Penrose Physical Therapy understand that. We are so excited about the new technologies helping people get relief from neuropathy.
Patient Success Story
Crystal, a cancer survivor, had been living with peripheral neuropathy for more than 12 years after chemotherapy left her with intense pain, weakness, and frequent tripping. While traditional physical therapy helped her regain some mobility, she was eventually told she had likely reached a plateau. After just one month of treatment with the StimpodNMS 460 at Penrose PT, she began noticing remarkable improvements. Sensation started returning in her feet, she was no longer catching her toes on stairs, and her nighttime pain decreased significantly. She describes the treatment as a “buzzy” but comfortable sensation and shares that her strength and stability have continued to improve. After years of believing there were no additional options, she now considers the treatment life-changing and encourages others facing neuropathy to explore it. Peripheral neuropathy has more options these days then before so continue to keep an open mind about the possibilities.
Common Causes
Peripheral neuropathy can develop for many different reasons. Common contributors include metabolic conditions, certain medical treatments, physical trauma, immune-related disorders, infections, and nutritional imbalances. In many cases, no clear cause is identified. It affects millions of adults, and the likelihood increases with age and ongoing health conditions. Neuropathy is often a very frustrating diagnosis as many are left to live with it. We are here to tell you that you have new options with regenerative therapies that are working.
Symptoms and Daily Impact
Symptoms vary but often include:
- Numbness or reduced sensation in the feet or hands
- Tingling or “pins and needles”
- Burning, shooting, or electric-like pain
- Muscle weakness
- Poor balance, especially in low light or on uneven surfaces
- Sensitivity to light touch
These symptoms affect more than comfort—they change how you move and function. You may walk more slowly, widen your stance, avoid stairs, or feel anxious about falling. Over time, this can limit activity, reduce confidence, and impact independence.
Why Medication Is Often the First Step
Medical providers often focus first on pain relief. Certain antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, or topical treatments can help reduce burning or tingling sensations. These medications can be valuable, but they primarily alter how the brain perceives pain signals. Medications also have side effects that people do not like or can’t tolerate. Thus, our excitement around the Stimpod (pulsed radio frequency) in the clinic that is helping people recover from these conditions.
Medications typically do not improve muscle strength, joint mobility, walking mechanics, or balance. In busy healthcare settings, movement-based treatments like physical therapy may not always be emphasized, even though they address many functional challenges neuropathy creates. A balanced plan often combines appropriate medical management with active rehabilitation.
How Physical Therapy Helps
Physical therapy focuses on improving movement, safety, and overall function. For people with peripheral neuropathy, goals usually include reducing pain, improving strength, enhancing balance, and lowering fall risk. And now with Stimpod – pulsed radio frequency – available in a hand held outpatient device we have options.
Targeted Strengthening and Flexibility
Weakness in the feet, ankles, and hips makes it harder to respond to uneven ground or sudden movements. A physical therapist designs specific exercises to strengthen key muscles such as the calves, shin muscles, hip stabilizers, and core.
Examples may include heel raises at a counter, resistance band ankle work, and hip strengthening drills. Gentle stretching maintains joint mobility and reduces stiffness. Stronger muscles help support joints, improve walking patterns, and enhance stability.
Balance Training
Neuropathy often reduces your ability to sense where your feet are. Balance training can help retrain coordination between the brain and body.
Therapy may include:
- Standing balance exercises in a safe setting
- Step training for curbs and stairs
- Walking practice on different surfaces
- Safe turning and direction-change drills
If necessary, your therapist may recommend and train you in the proper use of assistive devices to improve safety.
Nerve Mobility and Desensitization
In certain cases, gentle nerve mobility exercises (often called nerve glides) may reduce irritation and improve how nerves move within surrounding tissues. Desensitization techniques—gradual exposure to different textures—can help reduce discomfort from light touch. These interventions are personalized and introduced carefully.
Manual Therapy and Circulation Support
Hands-on techniques targeting the feet, ankles, and legs can improve tissue mobility and reduce stiffness. Soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and stretching may also support circulation. Improved movement and blood flow can create a more favorable environment for nerve health and daily comfort.
Fall Prevention and Home Programming
Education is a major component of therapy. You’ll learn strategies to reduce fall risk, including footwear guidance, home setup modifications, and safe nighttime movement strategies. A customized home exercise program ensures continued progress beyond clinic visits.
Regenerative and Technology-Assisted Therapies
In addition to exercise and manual therapy, Penrose Physical Therapy offers non-invasive regenerative or technology-assisted treatments to complement rehabilitation. We are committed to excellent outcomes and work closely with doctors like Dr. Capitano at Olympia Orthopedics and Dr. Femiano who perform biologics and then recommend our regenerative therapies at Penrose PT.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy uses controlled acoustic waves to stimulate circulation and cellular activity. We are seeing amazing results with shockwave and it can be used for nerve sx and in the world of MS there is some ground breaking research that will be published later this year. More to come on that!
STIMPOD (Pulsed Radio Frequency)
STIMPOD delivers non-invasive pulsed radio frequency over nerves to help modulate nerve signaling. In certain cases, this may reduce abnormal sensations and make participation in exercise more comfortable.
Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)
Red and near-infrared light therapies aim to support cellular energy production and local circulation. Early research suggests potential benefits for pain and tissue health, though more high-quality studies are still needed. Used alongside therapy, it may help improve comfort during movement.
EMTT (Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy)
EMTT applies rapidly changing magnetic fields externally to influence cellular processes. It may assist with pain reduction and tissue recovery. Like other regenerative tools, it works best as part of a comprehensive, movement-focused plan rather than as a stand-alone solution. We are one of the few clinics in the south sound that has this technology in clinic.
A Personalized Plan of Care
Every case of peripheral neuropathy is different. Causes, symptom patterns, medical history, and goals all influence treatment decisions. At Penrose we understand this and make sure each patient we see has a personalized plan of care that aligns specifically with their lifestyle. One day at a time we encourage steady progress toward safer, more confident movement.
Next Steps
If neuropathy has left you feeling unsteady or concerned about falls, you are not alone. Specialized physical therapy focused on balance and functional mobility can help you rebuild stability step by step. At Penrose Physical Therapy, we take a personalized, multi-modal approach to neuropathy and balance care. Don’t hesitate to reach out to schedule your next appointment.
Join Us for Our March Balance & Peripheral Neuropathy Workshop
If you or a loved one is struggling with balance issues or peripheral neuropathy, we invite you to attend our upcoming workshop at Penrose Physical Therapy in Lacey, WA on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. This educational event will be led by our lead therapist and owner, Dr. Jennifer Penrose, who has extensive experience helping patients improve stability, reduce pain, and regain confidence in their movement.
During this workshop, we will cover everything from the underlying causes of neuropathy and balance dysfunction to practical recovery strategies, fall prevention, and the latest regenerative therapy options available in our clinic. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to your symptoms and learn about the comprehensive, personalized approaches we use to help patients move more safely and comfortably.
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been managing neuropathy for years, this workshop is designed to provide hope, clarity, and actionable next steps. Go to our website or contact us at 360.456.1444 or info@penrosept.com now to reserve your spot. We look forward to helping you take the first step toward better balance and confidence.
