title: Grip force control during simple manipulation tasks in non-neuropathic diabetic individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess hand function and grip force (GF) control in non-neuropathic diabetic individuals using traditional hand function tests and instrumented handles that provide information about the underlying neural mechanisms controlling simple manipulation tasks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve diabetic individuals (31-60 years-old) without neuropathy and 12 controls performed traditional functional tests (i.e., nine hole peg test, Jebsen-Taylor test, and maximum grip strength test) and were tested for GF control in two situations: holding a free moving instrumented handle and isometrically pulling fixed handles. Task performance in the tests and safety margin (SM - percentage of GF above the minimum needed to hold the handle) were the main dependent variables assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between diabetics and controls in any functional test and in SM in isometric pulling task. However, diabetics presented around twice lower SM than controls in the free holding task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetics showed no impairment in functional manipulation tasks. However, they presented a lower SM than healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This lower SM suggests that diabetics may present sensory impairment that could put them at risk of losing objects during its manipulation. Also, it suggests that the applied experimental procedure is sensitive to detect mild sensory impairment in diabetics.
authors: Motion Analysis Lab, Graduate Program in Human Movement Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, Rua Galvão Bueno, 868, Liberdade, São Paulo 01506-000, SP, Brazil. defreitaspb@gmail.com
authors: P B
authors: PB
authors: de Freitas
authors: K C A
authors: KC
authors: Lima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Grip strength; Hand function; Jebsen–Taylor; Load force; Nine hole peg test; Object manipulation