Postural Control for Unexpected Perturbation in Diabetic Neuropathy People

Abstract

Loss of sensation in the feet due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy could impair postural control, cause body balance instability, and contribute to a high risk of falls or slips. Many studies have tried to find differences of body sway between diabetics with peripheral neuropathy and diabetics without peripheral neuropathy for evaluating stability of posture. Previous studies have reported some conflict results of total displacement of body sway between the two groups. The objective of this study was to characterize the body sway in order to gain a better understanding of postural control when unexpected disturbance broke the stability of posture. The body sway was measured during two phases, such as during a period of perturbation and during a period of recovery of posture. No significant difference of the body sway was found when considering one time horizon by combing the two phases. But, when analyzing the body sway for each phase separately, a significant difference of the body sway was found during a period of perturbation.