Type 1 diabetes, sport practiced, and ankle joint mobility in young patients: What is the relationship?

Abstract

Background/Objective: It is known that patients with diabetes can develop limited joint mobility (LJM) and that this can depend on the metabolic control maintained and the duration of the disease. The aims of this study were to verify the presence of ankle joint mobility (AJM) deficits in both plantar and dorsiflexion in young type 1 diabetic patients (T1D) considering also the possible role of sport practiced as a further factor, able to modify AJM. Methods: AJM was evaluated by an inclinometer in 82 T1D patients (M/F: 48/34), mean age 12.9 ± 2.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 19.7 ± 3.6 kg/m2, duration of diabetes 5.6 ± 3.3 years, mean HbA1c 7.5 ± 1.0% and in 226 healthy controls (M/F: 146/80), age-, gender-, and BMI-matched practicing different sports (soccer, volleyball, basketball, and dance). Results: The patients’ ankle range of motion was significantly lower than that in controls (132.7 ± 22.3° vs 126.1 ± 17.9°; P