Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a clinical condition that affects gait performance and control in millions of individuals worldwide. Contrary to basic spatiotemporal parameters, gait-based spectral analysis may provide useful insights into gait neuromotor control. Hence, this study was set to investigate the spectral content of gait at the preferred speed in patients with DM. Methods. Total 1117 individuals [658 DM and 649 healthy adults (HA)] performed a 10 m walk while wearing an inertial measurement unit over the fourth lumbar vertebra. Mann-Whitney-U test was used for between-group gait parameters comparisons. Results. DM group had a slower step time (1.2%, p<0.05) and gait speed (2.4%, p<0.05) than HA. Additionally, DM individuals showed reduced dominant frequency (DM:0.24 Hz vs HA:0.25 Hz on average, p<0.05). Increased antero-posterior and vertical dominant frequency width (DM:1.73 Hz vs HA:1.76 Hz on average, p<0.05) and medio-lateral relative power spectral density at the dominant frequency (DM:6.19% vs HA:5.96%, p<0.05). Conclusions. It was demonstrated for the first time that the gait spectral content, not only corroborates spatiotemporal characteristics, but also provides further insight into their neuromotor control deficits in diabetic patients. Ultimately, this type of analysis in the diabetic population can help guide the therapeutic interventions to prevent diabetic foot.
Inacio, Mario Esser, Patrick Li JunxianXu LeiZeng HuiHe RuiDawes, HelenLiu Fang
Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work
Year of publication: 2023Date of RADAR deposit: 2023-05-09