Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of most chronic diseases diagnosed in recent years. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PN) is the most prevalent complication of the disease, reaching 80% of diabetics and it may modify the balance. This study intended to compare the static equilibrium of neuropathic diabetics, diabetic non-neuropathic and subjects without DM and investigate the influence of vision in this situation. Thirty subjects were evaluated, divided into three different groups: GC, 10 non-diabetic (average age 55.5±9.72 years); GD, 10 diabetic without NP (54.4±7.76 years); and GNP, 10 diabetic with NP (60.4±5.35 years). All subjects were filmed in the frontal and sagittal planes, with and without vision, and their movements were evaluated frame by frame in the software Free Video to JPG Converter® to select the moments of greatest oscillation. The images were quantified through computerized biophotogrammetry using the software SAPO. Data were statistically analyzed in Graph Pad Prism Software (version 5). The results pointed that the GNP group showed statistically significant differences in the amplitudes of oscillations in the frontal and sagittal, both with and without vision, compared with other groups (p=0.0001). With the results it can be concluded that NP has a negative influence on the maintenance of static balance, particularly without vision.
diabetes mellitus; diabetic neuropathies; postural balance
