J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2010 Oct;34(5):550-553.

Relationship of Diabetic Polyneuropathy Severity with Various Balance Parameters

• Lee JH
• Kim CH
• Kim SH
• Jeong HJ
• Kim MO

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the balance parameters, the diabetes mellitus (DM) composite score representing the severity of diabetic polyneuropathy, and the neuropathy impairment score-lower limb (NIS-LL). METHOD: Thirty patients with DM were studied. Subjects were evaluated with nerve conduction study in upper and lower extremities, DM composite score, and NIS-LL, various balance parameters such as plantar pressure difference of both sides and unipedal standing time. The subjects who could not stand without support by any reasons were excluded.
RESULTS
NIS-LL showed strong correlation with DM composite score (r(s)=0.683) and unipedal standing time (r(s)=0.663) (p<0.01). NIS-LL also revealed moderate correlation with plantar pressure difference of both sides (r(s)=0.512) (p<0.05). DM composite score showed strong correlation with unipedal standing time (r(s)=0.646) (p<0.01), but revealed no significant correlation with plantar pressure difference of both sides (r(s)=0.137) (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
NIS-LL was considered to have clinical usefulness in the evaluation of balance problems related to DM.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus; Neuropathy impairment score; Composite score; Plantar pressure

MeSH Terms

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Neuropathies
Extremities
Humans
Lower Extremity
Neural Conduction