Relationship between range of motion of foot joints and amount of physical activity in middle-aged male diabetic patients.
Nobumasa Matsui, Hiroichi Miaki, Takashi Kitagawa and 1 others
PMID 31417218WHAT IT FOUND
In middle-aged men with diabetes, more reported daily physical activity was linked to better ankle movement.
The diabetic men also had less ankle and big-toe movement than controls, but this was not a test of whether activity causes stiffness.
Key findings
01In diabetic men, ankle range of motion was associated with estimated daily physical activity; physical activity was the only variable selected in that regression.
02Diabetic men had lower passive ankle range of motion than healthy controls (55.4 ± 8.4° vs 69.1 ± 9.2°).
03In diabetic men, first metatarsophalangeal range of motion was associated with diabetes duration, not with estimated physical activity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only men aged 50 to 69 years, so it cannot be assumed to apply to women or younger or older adults. It was done at a single facility with a small number of participants. All participants could walk without an assistive device and had no history of diabetic foot ulcers, so findings may not apply to patients with more severe foot disease or impaired walking. Physical activity was estimated by a self-administered questionnaire, not measured objectively. The design could not clarify whether a specific walking pattern influenced first metatarsophalangeal range of motion in diabetic patients.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that increasing physical activity will improve ankle range of motion. The study found an association in middle-aged men with diabetes, and the authors state that a larger study is needed to determine the amount of activity needed to maintain ankle motion.