title: The association between physical characteristics of the ankle joint and the mobility performance in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Previous studies showed that older adults with diabetes have a worse mobility performance as compared with those without diabetes. Studies also demonstrated that older adults with diabetes have weakened ankle muscle strength, reduced joint range in ankle dorsiflexion and worsened ankle joint proprioception as compared with control population. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the physical characteristics of the ankle joint and the mobility performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Older adults with type 2 diabetes (n=85) were recruited, and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) for mobility assessment was performed. Active ankle joint repositioning test was used for assessing the ankle joint proprioception sense; peak torque of ankle dorsiflexors and plantar flexors were tested by using a Cybex Norm dynamometer, and weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT) was used for assessing the stiffness of ankle dorsiflexion. Our results showed that age, body mass index (BMI), normalized peak torque of plantar flexors and dorsiflexors, active ankle joint repositioning test errors and the WBLT distance were significantly correlated with the TUG (all p<0.001). These ankle characteristics, together with the demographic data of the subjects, contributed 59.9% of the variance in the TUG by multiple regression analysis. Body mass, ankle plantar flexors strength and ankle joint proprioception are important factors contributing to the physical mobility of the older adults with type 2 diabetes.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors: Thomas Ka-Wai
authors: TK
authors: Ng
authors: Faculty of Arts and Sciences, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors: Sing-Kai
authors: SK
authors: Lo
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: rsgladys@polyu.edu.hk.
authors: Gladys Lai-Ying
authors: GL
authors: Cheing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology; D019415:Torque; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Ankle joint; Muscle strength; Older adults; Proprioception; Type 2 diabetes mellitus