Evaluation of postural stability in elderly with diabetic neuropathy

OBJECTIVE - The objective of this study was to compare clinical and biomech anical characteristics of balance in diabetic polyneuropathic elderly patie nts and normal age-matched subjects. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- Fifteen elderly with distal neuropathy (DNP) a nd 15 healthy age-matched subjects were evaluated with the biomechanical va riable COP-COM, which represents the distance between the center of pressur e (COP) and the center of mass (COM). Measurements were taken in the quiet position with a double-leg stance, in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) c onditions. Subjects were also assessed with clinical balance evaluations. RESULTS - The COP-COM variable was statistically significantly larger in th e DNP group than in the healthy group in anterior-posterior (A/P) and media l-lateral (M/L) directions. Furthermore, the DNP group showed statistically significantly larger amplitudes of the COP-COM variable without vision. Th e severity of the neuropathy, as quantified using the Valk scoring system, was correlated with COP-COM amplitude in both directions. CONCLUSIONS - Evaluation of the postural stability of an elderly diabetic p opulation using the COP-COM variable can detect a very small change in post ural stability and could be helpful in identifying elderly with DNP at. ris k of falling.