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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Assessment of motor sensory losses in the foot and ankle due to diabetic neuropathy

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Author(s):
ICN Sacco [1] ; CD Sartor [2] ; AA Gomes [3] ; SMA João [4] ; R Cronfli [5]
Total Authors: 5
Affiliation:
[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional - Brasil
[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional - Brasil
[3] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional - Brasil
[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina. Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional - Brasil
[5] USP. Hospital Universitário - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY; v. 11, n. 1, p. 27-33, 2007-02-00.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify motor sensory deficits in the feet of neuropathic diabetic patients and compare their deficits with a group of healthy subjects. METHOD: 49 neuropathic diabetics (group NG) and 22 controls (group CG) underwent a three-stage protocol: (1) an interview using a questionnaire to characterize the neuropathy and symptoms; (2) assessment of muscle function and range of motion, and functional tests on the feet and ankles; (3) assessment of tactile and thermal sensitivity. The groups were compared using the chi-squared, Mann-Whitney and Student t tests (p<0.05). RESULTS: NG presented significant losses of tactile and thermal sensitivity in comparison with CG, especially in the heels (49.0% of NG and 97.3% of CG). Muscle function was decreased in NG, with predominance of loss of grade 5. The muscles most affected were the interossei (23.4%), extensor hallucis (42.5%) and triceps surae (43.2%), while all muscle function was preserved in CG. All ranges of motion in NG were reduced in comparison with CG. The functional tests on the ankles in NG presented a decrease of around 50%. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences between the groups with regard to sensitivity, muscle function, range of motion and functional losses. These differences can be attributed to the diabetic neuropathy. (AU)