Examination of Walking Change in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate change in gait in patients with diabetic neuropathy (DN）by examining comfortable and maximum walking speeds．

Methods: Twenty-one patients with DN, 10 with diabetes mellitus (DM), and 18 without DM (non DM) were investigated. Basic clinical information was gathered on age, sex, height, and body mass index score. These data were then adjusted to match those in the DN group. The gait parameters of comfortable and maximum walking speed were studied, and velocity, step length, and cadence determined. Change in gait was investigated with intentional increase in walking speed.

Results: In the DN group, maximum walking velocity was 78.4 ± 20.5 m/min， step length was 0.54 ± 0.12 m, and cadence was 139.1±17.3 steps/min．In the DN group, comfortable walking velocity was 55.6 ± 14.4 m/min, step length was 0.50 ± 0.10 m, and cadence was 118.0 ± 21.8 steps/min. The values in this group were significantly lower than those in the DM and non DM groups for all gait parameters other than cadence during comfortable walking．

Discussion: A marked reduction was observed in maximum velocity, stride, and cadence in the DN group, with the decrease in stride particularly noticeable.