Mechanics of Walking in Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus type II

Diabetes Mellitus type II (DM2) is a widespread disease that can significantly impact the functional status of older adults, leading to reduced mobility and independence. Aim of this work was to compare the mechanical and the spatio-temporal parameters of gait at different speeds (self-selected walking speed and ±20%, ±40<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">%</sup>) between an experimental group with DM2 and a control group (CG) paired for age and gender. Only volunteers without severe neuropathic complications, amputations and other pathologies affecting gait were included. Protocol was approved by the correspondent Ethical Committee. Methods: 28 volunteers between 64 and 75 years old participated in this preliminary study, 14 in each group. <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">$3\mathrm{D}$</tex> kinematics was assessed using a motion capture system (Vicon, UK), with 18 reflective markers model. Statistics: U Mann-Whitney test. Results: With respect to DM2, CG exhibited significant higher walking speed, stride frequency and internal kinetic work. No significant differences were found in the relative stance time, energy recovery and external work. Conclusions: In absence of neuropathic complications, speed related walking parameters of DM2 group were affected, similarly to what described in other pathology and in severe DM2. Mechanics parameters associated to the pendular motion of the centre of mass were not significantly affected at this time. These are encouraging findings, as they are preliminary results of a wider project, where we aim to incorporate more patients and evaluate the muscle activity with surface electromyography.