Description
INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is increasing, placing a burden on both individuals and healthcare systems. T2D accounts for approximately 90% of all diabetes cases, making it a priority for improved prevention and management. T2D is associated with various pathological complications, including those affecting the neuromuscular system. Previous research suggests that individuals with T2D often exhibit slower walking speeds, altered gait patterns, decreased muscle strength and impaired mobility compared to non-diabetic individuals. The aim of this study was to examine how strength, balance, ankle range of motion and step length are associated with self-selected (SS) and maximum (MS) walking speeds among males with T2D. METHODS: The study design was cross-sectional, with 18 males (age 62.5 ± 10.6, body height 177.1 ± 5.4 cm, body weight 94.7 ± 16.7 kg), diagnosed with T2D. Participants were recruited from the Department of endocrinology at the University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. Gait speed was assessed for both SS and MS. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of plantar flexors was measured in a seated position using VALD ForceFrame and MVC of knee extensors with VALD Dynamo. Balance was evaluated during a 15 second single leg stance on VALD ForceDecks. Step length and ankle angles at heel strike and toe-off were determined using video recordings analyzed with the Dartfish software while walking on a treadmill. Jamovi software was used for statistical analysis. Pearsons´s correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between SS and MS with plantar flexor strength, knee extensor strength, single leg balance, step length and ankle angles at heel strike and toe-off. A significance level of α = 0.05 was set for all analyses. RESULTS: Among males with T2D, SS was strongly and significantly correlated with MS (r = 0.86, p < 0.001). Additionally, SS was significantly correlated with step length at SS (r = 0.69, p = 0.004) and the strength of plantar flexors (r = 0.63, p = 0.009). A moderate, but non-significant (p = 0.060) correlation was found between knee extensor strength and SS. No significant correlations were found between SS and single leg balance or ankle angles at heel strike and toe-off. For MS, significant positive correlations were found with plantar flexor strength (r = 0.662, p = 0.005), knee extensor strength (r = 0.579, p = 0.015), step length at MS (r = 0.562, p = 0.046) and ankle angle at toe- off (r = 0.612, p = 0.026). However, MS was not significantly correlated with single leg balance or ankle angle at heel strike. CONCLUSION: The results of this ongoing study indicate that among males with T2D, greater plantar flexor strength and step length are associated with faster SS and MS. Achieving higher MS may be further influenced by plantar flexion at toeoff and knee extensor strength. These findings suggest a possible beneficial effect of targeted strength training to improve walking speed in this population.| Period | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | ECSS Rimini 2025: the 30th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Rimini, ItalyShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |