Diabetes Neuropathy
Diabetes neuropathy (DN) is a neurological disorder associated with Diabetes Mellitus (DM), also known as Type-2 diabetes (Menz, Lord, St George, & Fitzpatrick, 2004). Diabetes neuropathy has many integral complications that circulate around the biomechanical impairments of the feet, especially in the elderly population with diabetes (Richardson, Thies, DeMott, & Ashton-Miller, 2005). DN has worrying health risks as it has harmful effects on stability, gait efficiency and function (Menz, Morris, & Lord, 2005). Richardson (2004) stated that gait and stability are of interest because many falls in the elderly population with and without DN occur during locomotion, which in turn affects their daily lives. Speed and frontal plane control are connected
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Studies showed this could be investigated using research methods such as those outlined by Richardson (2005, 2004). These methods involved gait parameters such as step time, step width, and step length. Step length and step time are the variables studied when it comes to assessing walking speed. Richardson (2004, 2005) concluded that this decreased with the effects of DN. This conclusion was established by comparing gait patterns in standard and challenging environments (Richardson, 2005, 2004) and was done by changing the lighting and surface texture of the environment. Both these articles concluded that the subject group of DN patients showed a decreased walking speed when compared to that in the standard environment. This shows that the walking speed is slower in conditions of challenging environment and low lighting. Therefore leading to gait …show more content…
Balance is defined as postural sway and is shown to increase with DN (Menz et al., 2004). One study examined this using accelerometer apparatus and footwear (Menz et al., 2004). Here it was concluded that DN subjects have impaired ability to stabilize their body when walking. Menz (2005) also noted the balance impairments in elderly, but in the aspects of physical characteristics, sensorimotor function and functional abilities. Both these studies used methodologies that were outlined in a stepwise manner and were easy to read and follow. The participants in Menz (2004) were recruited by telephone. Thirty participants with DN and Twenty-three controls without DN were recruited. This unequal ratio of subjects is a setback on the article’s reliability, not only that it was unequal, but it was noted that some of the controls were obtained from a sample of staff and relatives. This can cause the data collected to be questioned under anticipated error. This means the staff and relatives may already know the predicted result of the control group and may behave in a manner that derives anticipated results. Menz (2005 & 2004) also used another technique in assessing balance and that was by the sway meter. It measured the displacements at the waist while the participants stood on a rubber mat with eyes open and closed. Throughout this experiment Menz (2004) administered footwear for the participants to wear. This section in methods
Studies showed this could be investigated using research methods such as those outlined by Richardson (2005, 2004). These methods involved gait parameters such as step time, step width, and step length. Step length and step time are the variables studied when it comes to assessing walking speed. Richardson (2004, 2005) concluded that this decreased with the effects of DN. This conclusion was established by comparing gait patterns in standard and challenging environments (Richardson, 2005, 2004) and was done by changing the lighting and surface texture of the environment. Both these articles concluded that the subject group of DN patients showed a decreased walking speed when compared to that in the standard environment. This shows that the walking speed is slower in conditions of challenging environment and low lighting. Therefore leading to gait …show more content…
Balance is defined as postural sway and is shown to increase with DN (Menz et al., 2004). One study examined this using accelerometer apparatus and footwear (Menz et al., 2004). Here it was concluded that DN subjects have impaired ability to stabilize their body when walking. Menz (2005) also noted the balance impairments in elderly, but in the aspects of physical characteristics, sensorimotor function and functional abilities. Both these studies used methodologies that were outlined in a stepwise manner and were easy to read and follow. The participants in Menz (2004) were recruited by telephone. Thirty participants with DN and Twenty-three controls without DN were recruited. This unequal ratio of subjects is a setback on the article’s reliability, not only that it was unequal, but it was noted that some of the controls were obtained from a sample of staff and relatives. This can cause the data collected to be questioned under anticipated error. This means the staff and relatives may already know the predicted result of the control group and may behave in a manner that derives anticipated results. Menz (2005 & 2004) also used another technique in assessing balance and that was by the sway meter. It measured the displacements at the waist while the participants stood on a rubber mat with eyes open and closed. Throughout this experiment Menz (2004) administered footwear for the participants to wear. This section in methods