The distribution of plantar pressures in American Indians with diabetes mellitus

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude and durati on of plantar pressures acting on the feet of American Indians with diabete s mellitus. A secondary purpose was to determine whether differences in the range of motion of the ankle and first metatarsophalangeal joints existed between American Indians with and without diabetes. Three groups of America n Indian subjects were tested: a control group (n = 20); a group with diabe tes but no peripheral neuropathy (n = 24); and a group with diabetes and pe ripheral neuropathy (n = 21). A floor-mounted pressure sensor platform was used to collect plantar pressure data while subjects walked barefoot. The r esults indicated that American Indians with diabetes have 1) a pattern of p eak plantar pressure similar to patterns previously reported for non-Americ an Indians with diabetes and 2) a reduction in ankle and first metatarsopha langeal joint range of motion in comparison with nondiabetic American India ns.