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Diabetes mellitus and gait dysfunction: possible explanatory factors
Jennifer S Brach1, Jaime B Talkowski, Elsa S Strotmeyer
1Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 6035 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. jbrach@pitt.edu
Physical Therapy
|September 20, 2008
Summary
Diabetes is linked to altered gait in older adults. While slowed gait speed is partly explained by other health factors, the impact on step width remains unclear, possibly due to nerve function.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Diabetology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Gait characteristics are known to differ between individuals with and without diabetes.
- Limited research exists on the factors explaining this association in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between diabetes and gait characteristics in older adults.
- To explore potential explanatory factors for observed gait alterations.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, observational study of 558 older adults (mean age 79) from the Cardiovascular Health Study.
- Gait characteristics, diabetes status, health, cognition, mood, lower-extremity function, vision, physical activity, and BMI were assessed.
- Linear regression models analyzed the association between diabetes and gait, and potential explanatory factors.
Main Results:
- Diabetes was associated with slower gait speed, partially explained by health status, cognition, mood, lower-extremity function, vision, physical activity, and BMI.
- Health status and lower-extremity strength each explained 66% of the gait speed association.
- Diabetes was associated with wider step width, an effect not explained by the factors examined.
Conclusions:
- Diabetes is associated with gait alterations in older adults.
- Slowed gait speed in diabetes appears secondary to peripheral effects on other systems.
- The unexplained association between diabetes and step width may involve peripheral nerve function or central disease influences.
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