Effect of Aerobic Training on the Relationship Between Loading Rate and Quadriceps Muscle Activities in Men With Diabetic Neuropathy: A Clinical Trial

The increase in loading rate is associated with lower limb injuries such as tibial stress fracture. Quadriceps muscle activities absorb ground reaction force (GRF) shocks by eccentric activation. This study aims to evaluate the effect of aerobic training on the relationship between loading rate and quadriceps muscle activities in men with diabetic neuropathy (DN). 

In this double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial, participants were 40 men with DN who were selected by a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of training (n=20, age: 54.9±7.3, body mass index: 28.4±5.4) and control (n=20; age: 54.1±7.3, body mass index: 28.5±5.1). The GRF data was recorded using a force plate system during walking. The electrical activity of selected lower limb muscles was recorded using electromyography method. The training group performed aerobic training for 12 weeks (three sessions per week). 

The results showed an increase in the negative relationship between vertical loading rate and vastus lateralis activities after training (P=0.028). The activities of vastus medialis and rectus femoris muscles showed no significant relationship with loading rate after training (P>0.05). 

Aerobic training can improve the relationship between vastus lateralis muscle activity and vertical loading rate in men with DN.