OBJECTIVE: To investigate and describe the peak plantar pressures and ground contact times of the foot during walking in diabetic patients and healthy adults. METHOD: 17 age-matched diabetic patients without any complications and 33 healthy adults participated in this study. The foot was divided into 10 different areas, and peak plantar pressures and ground contact times were measured during walking by EMED system . RESULTS: There were no significant differences in peak plantar pressures of both feet in both groups, but there were significant increases in peak plantar pressures of hindfoot and hindfoot contact times in the diabetic group. CONCLUSION: Despite having no definite diabetic neuropathy and vascular disease, diabetic patients have higher peak plantar pressures of hindfoot and prolonged hindfoot contact times because limb muscle dysfunction or impairment of proprioception may induce faster descent of the foot towards the ground or improper pattern of stance phases.
Adult* ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Extremities ; Foot ; Humans ; Proprioception ; Walking

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies*

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies*

Foot complications are a well known factor which contribute to the morbidity of diabetes and increases the chance of amputation. A total of 126 consecutive diabetic patients were evaluated by diabetic foot screening. Forty-one patients showed an impaired protective sense when tested with Semmes-Weinstein monofilament 5.07 (10 g), and 92% of them showed peripheral polyneuropathy in nerve conduction study (NCS). The mean vibration score of the Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork in patients with peripheral polyneuropathy in nerve conduction (NCV) study was 5.38+/-2.0, which was significantly different from that of patients without polyneuropathy in NCS. Among the deformities identified on examination, callus, corn, and hallux valgus were the greatest. While checking the ankle/ brachial index (ABI), we also evaluated the integrity of vasculature in the lower extremities. After extensive evaluation, we classified the patients into eight groups (category 0,1,2,3,4A,4B,5,6). The result of this study suggested that the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, Rydel-Seiffer graduated tuning fork test, and checking the ankle/brachial index were simple techniques for evaluating pathologic change in the diabetic foot by office screening, and that this screening based on treatment-oriented classification helps to reduce pedal complications in a diabetic population
Diabetic Angiopathies/diagnosis ; Diabetic Angiopathies/complications ; Diabetic Foot/physiopathology ; Diabetic Foot/diagnosis* ; Diabetic Foot/classification ; Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnosis ; Diabetic Neuropathies/complications ; Female ; Foot/physiopathology ; Human ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Age ; Podiatry/methods ; Sensory Thresholds

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) causes neuropathic pain with reduced quality of life as well as diabetic foot ulceration which sometimes resulted in amputation. Early detection and improved knowledge of pathogenic pathways are important to prevent and to manage DPN. The screening methods and several tests to diagnose DPN-quantitative sensory testing, skin biopsy, corneal confocal microscopy, etc.-will be described.
Amputation ; Biopsy ; Diabetic Foot ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Mass Screening ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Neuralgia ; Quality of Life ; Skin ; Ulcer

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy(DPN),a chronic diabetic microvascular complication with a high incidence among diabetic patients,increases the risk of diabetic foot and amputation.Many methods are available for screening and evaluating DPN,including traditional 10 g monofilament,tuning fork and vibration perception,and tendon reflex tests,which should be combined with some nerve function score systems to improve the detection rate and accuracy for DPN.In recent years,a number of noninvasive new techniques have been developed for the evaluation of nerve injury,such as corneal confocal microscopy,quantitative sensory testing,current perception threshold test,sympathetic sudomotor function evaluation,and quantitative detection of skin advanced glycation end products.This paper reviews these noninvasive methods for screening and evaluating DPN to help clinicians detect and focus on DPN early.
Cornea ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Foot ; Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Microscopy, Confocal

Humans ; Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnostic imaging* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Ultrasonography ; Diabetic Foot/diagnostic imaging*

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans

No abstract available.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is important to adequately estimate the functional handicap of the patient with polyneuropathy. Computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) can be utilized in those patients to evaluate balance performance. But, so far, the majority of data are about sensory organization test (SOT) and the efficacy of motor control test (MCT) is not established. We performed this study in an attempt to estimate balance function in diabetic neuropathy patients using MCT, thereby confirm the usefulness of MCT in evaluating balance ability. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seventeen diabetic neuropathy patients (DM-NP), 9 non-neuropathy diabetic patients (DM-nonNP), and 22 non-diabetic normal persons as controls (nonDM) were included in this study. Postural responses to horizontal translation were assessed according to the MCT paradigm. The results were compared with the sway energy obtained during toes-up or toes-down perturbation. RESULTS: Latencies of backward translation were prolonged in DM-NP but not in DM-nonNP. Latencies of forward translation were prolonged both in DM-NP and DM-nonNP. No definite correlation could be drawn between the MCT and EMG latencies. DM-NP showed increased sway energy in toes-up and toes-down perturbation. MCT latencies and sway energy in perturbation showed significant correlation. CONCLUSION: MCT proved to be useful in evaluating balance performance in the patients with defective postural response as in diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Humans ; Polyneuropathies