Functional balance in elderly with diabetic neuropathy

Distal Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common long-term complications of diabetes mellitus. Patients with DPN are at a high risk for falling and its life-threatening consequences. The objective of present study was the evaluation of functional balance in patients with diabetic neuropathy and normal older adults. Thus, present case-control study was designed to test the ability of two fourteen DPN patients and healthy people to control functional balance using Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Furthermore, the correlation between DNE and BBS scores were calculated using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. Comparison of two groups showed a significant decline in the overall score of BBS in DPN patients versus to the healthy control group (P<0.001). The most challenging tasks for DNP patients were single leg stance, tandem standing and forward reaching (P<0.001), followed by standing unsupported with feet together, sit to stand, stand to sit, transfers, standing unsupported with closed eyes, and placing the alternative foot on step or stool while standing unsupported tasks (P<0.05). There was a significant (P<0.001) strong negative (r=-0.77) correlation between DNE and BBS scores. In conclusion, DPN results in a remarkable functional imbalance that may expose these patients to danger of falling during daily activities and becomes more severe as the severity of neuropathy aggravates.