TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationships between plantar flexor muscle stiffness, strength, and range of motion in subjects with diabetes-peripheral neuropathy compared to age-matched controls
AU - Salsich, G. B.
AU - Brown, M.
AU - Mueller, M. J.
PY - 2000
Y1 - 2000
N2 - Study Design: Descriptive study to compare relationships between muscle performance measures in 2 subject groups. Objectives: To determine the relationships between plantar flexor (PF) muscle stiffness, strength (concentric peak torque), and dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) in subjects with diabetes who have peripheral neuropathy (n = 17, 10 men, 7 women; age = 58 ± 11 years) and age-matched controls (n = 17, 10 men, 7 women; age = 62 ± 6 years). Background: The relationships between muscle stiffness, strength, and joint ROM have not been clearly established. Furthermore, the effect of neuromuscular pathology on these relationships is unknown. Methods and Measures: PF stiffness and strength measurements were obtained with an isokinetic dynamometer. DF ROM was measured with a goniometer. A Pearson correlation matrix was constructed for each subject group using stiffness, strength, and ROM variables. The percent contribution of passive torque to total torque was computed at 2 joint angles. Results: In subjects with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (DM-PN) peak concentric PF torque was positively correlated with passive torque at 5°DF (r = 0.77), Stiffness #1 (r = 0.58), and Stiffness #2 (r = 0.50). The percentage of passive PF torque at 5°DF was greater in subjects with DM-PN, compared to control subjects (29.3 ± 9.4% versus 12.6 ± 5.9%). Conclusions: The positive correlation between PF stiffness and strength, and the greater percentage of passive PF torque in subjects with DM-PN suggest that patients with decreased strength may use passive torque to maximize total torque. Therefore, treatment methods designed to decrease stiffness should be used cautiously.
AB - Study Design: Descriptive study to compare relationships between muscle performance measures in 2 subject groups. Objectives: To determine the relationships between plantar flexor (PF) muscle stiffness, strength (concentric peak torque), and dorsiflexion (DF) range of motion (ROM) in subjects with diabetes who have peripheral neuropathy (n = 17, 10 men, 7 women; age = 58 ± 11 years) and age-matched controls (n = 17, 10 men, 7 women; age = 62 ± 6 years). Background: The relationships between muscle stiffness, strength, and joint ROM have not been clearly established. Furthermore, the effect of neuromuscular pathology on these relationships is unknown. Methods and Measures: PF stiffness and strength measurements were obtained with an isokinetic dynamometer. DF ROM was measured with a goniometer. A Pearson correlation matrix was constructed for each subject group using stiffness, strength, and ROM variables. The percent contribution of passive torque to total torque was computed at 2 joint angles. Results: In subjects with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy (DM-PN) peak concentric PF torque was positively correlated with passive torque at 5°DF (r = 0.77), Stiffness #1 (r = 0.58), and Stiffness #2 (r = 0.50). The percentage of passive PF torque at 5°DF was greater in subjects with DM-PN, compared to control subjects (29.3 ± 9.4% versus 12.6 ± 5.9%). Conclusions: The positive correlation between PF stiffness and strength, and the greater percentage of passive PF torque in subjects with DM-PN suggest that patients with decreased strength may use passive torque to maximize total torque. Therefore, treatment methods designed to decrease stiffness should be used cautiously.
KW - Active and passive tension
KW - Ankle joint
KW - Biomechanics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033881024&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2519/jospt.2000.30.8.473
DO - 10.2519/jospt.2000.30.8.473
M3 - Article
C2 - 10949504
AN - SCOPUS:0033881024
SN - 0190-6011
VL - 30
SP - 473
EP - 483
JO - Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
JF - Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy
IS - 8
ER -