Effect of Aerobic Training on Ankle Joint Co-contraction in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy During Walking

Diabetes is associated with dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the nerves, heart, and blood vessels. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aerobic training on ankle joint co-contraction in patients with Diabetic neuropathy during walking.

The statistical sample of the present study included 20 patients (age: 54.9±7.3, Body mass index: 28.4±5.1) with diabetic neuropathy in the experimental group and 20 patients (age: 54.1±7.1, Body mass index: 28.5±5.1) with diabetic neuropathy in the control group who were selected by convenience sampling. The electrical activity of selected lower limb muscles was recorded using an electromyography system during walking. The experimental group did aerobic training for eight weeks (three sessions per week). The 2-ways ANOVA with repeated measures was used for statistical analysis.

The results demonstrated lower general ankle co-contraction in the post-test loading phase than the pre-test in the experimental group (P=0.001). Other components of directed co-contraction in all phases and general co-contraction in different phases did not demonstrate any significant differences after training protocol (P>0.05).

Damage to the peripheral nerve due to diabetic neuropathy in patients with moderate neuropathy causes abnormal co-contraction contentment of lower limb muscles during walking; therefore, lowering the general ankle co-contraction results in proper control of the lower limbs, which could decrease the likelihood of injury and falls in patients.