Early subclinical limited axial and large joint flexibility in type 1 diabetes mellitus adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to compare the axial and large joint mobility in adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1).


METHODS
To check this relationship, 72 DM1 adolescents aged 9-20 years were admitted into the trial and compared with 46 healthy control subjects aged 10-18 years. The youths were compared with regard to anthropometrics (age, proportion female/male, weight, height, and BMI) data. The years from DM1 diagnosis and HbA(1c) (index) were 4.9 +/- 3.6 years and 1.40 +/- 0.39%, respectively. The values of the tests of flexibility of the movements of cervical joint, the abduction of scapular, wrist and back-lumbar joints and abduction of lame-femoral were obtained through the Fleximeter.


RESULTS
The DM1 patients and controls did not differ regarding age (DM1 median 16, range 9-20 years vs. controls 16, range 10-18 years) and BMI (DM1 mean+/-S.D. 21.49 +/- 3.69 kg/m(2) vs. controls 20.76 +/- 2.81 kg/m(2)). The scapular, back-lumbar, and lame-femoral flexibility were, respectively, significantly lower (P < .001) in DM1 adolescents (175 +/- 8 degrees , 107 +/- 4 degrees , 66 +/- 10 degrees) compared with controls (189 +/- 13, 116 +/- 14, 76 +/- 12), but the cervical joint mobility was the same in both groups (DM1: 98 +/- l2 degrees vs. control: 101 +/- 13 degrees).


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, the results of our study show a subclinical limited axial and large joint mobility in DM1 adolescents. Future prospective studies are needed to ascertain whether the joint limitations found in these DM1 adolescents will persist into adulthood and play a role in the development of other diabetic complications.
Komatsu
William R
WR
Diabetes Center and Endocrinology Division, Department of Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Gabbay
Mônica A L
MA
Dib
Sérgio A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D018583:Pliability; D012016:Reference Values