Limited joint mobility and plantar pressure in type 1 diabetic subjects in India.
OBJECTIVE
Limited joint mobility and plantar pressure in the foot has not been assessed in type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the joint mobility and plantar foot pressure in Asian Indian type 1 diabetic subjects and to see its association with duration of diabetes.


METHODS
The joint mobility and plantar pressure were measured in 115 consecutive subjects attending the foot clinic. The study groups were: Control- non diabetic controls (n=40) (M:F 19:21) and type 1 diabetic patients (n=75) (M:F 42:33). Joint mobility was assessed using a goniometer at two sites, in the subtalar joint and in the hallux. Plantar pressure was measured using the RS-Scan platform system. Data obtained on the metatarsal heads were used for analysis.


RESULTS
Patients with type 1 diabetes had significantly lesser joint mobility (p < 0.0001) and higher plantar pressure (p < 0.0001) compared with the control group. Duration of diabetes had an inverse association with joint mobility (p < 0.0001). The degree of joint mobility was more restricted in patients with longer duration of diabetes. Plantar pressure increased with increasing duration of diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, type 1 diabetic patients in India had limited joint mobility which decreased further with longer duration of diabetes and they had high plantar pressure also.
M.V. Hospital for Diabetes & Diabetes Research Centre, Royapuram, Chennai-13, India.
V
V
Viswanathan
Sivagami
S
Madhavan
Seena
S
Rajasekar
Satyavani
S
Kumpatla
D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008683:Metatarsophalangeal Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors