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Vibration thresholds are increased at low frequencies in the sole of the foot in diabetes a novel multi-frequency approach.

Nelander Wahlestedt, Jenny LU orcid ; Speidel, T ; Björkman, Anders LU and Dahlin, Lars LU orcid (2012) In Diabetic Medicine 29(12). p.449-456
Abstract
AIMS: To evaluate multi-frequency tactilometry as a method to measure vibrotactile sense in the sole of the foot in subjects with diabetes. METHODS: Vibration thresholds were investigated at five frequencies (8, 16, 32, 64 and 125 Hz) at three sites (first and fifth metatarsal heads and heel) in the sole of the foot in subjects with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (n = 37). Thresholds were compared with healthy, age- and gender-matched subjects (n = 37) and related to glycaemic levels, subjective estimation of sensation in the feet and to perception of touch. RESULTS: Vibration thresholds were significantly higher in subjects with diabetes compared with healthy subjects at low frequencies (8, 16 and 32 Hz) at all measured sites, and also at 64... (More)
AIMS: To evaluate multi-frequency tactilometry as a method to measure vibrotactile sense in the sole of the foot in subjects with diabetes. METHODS: Vibration thresholds were investigated at five frequencies (8, 16, 32, 64 and 125 Hz) at three sites (first and fifth metatarsal heads and heel) in the sole of the foot in subjects with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (n = 37). Thresholds were compared with healthy, age- and gender-matched subjects (n = 37) and related to glycaemic levels, subjective estimation of sensation in the feet and to perception of touch. RESULTS: Vibration thresholds were significantly higher in subjects with diabetes compared with healthy subjects at low frequencies (8, 16 and 32 Hz) at all measured sites, and also at 64 Hz for the metatarsal heads. Perception of touch and subjective estimation of sensation were significantly impaired in subjects with diabetes. Glycaemic levels, which were higher in subjects with diabetes, did not correlate with vibration thresholds at 32 Hz (most sensitive to Meissner's corpuscles) or with touch thresholds in subjects with diabetes. Vibration thresholds at 32 Hz correlated significantly with perception of touch (rho = 0.45-0.65; P < 0.01) and with subjective sensation (rho = -0.38 to -0.52; P < 0.001) in subjects with diabetes. Perception of touch and subjective estimation of sensation did also correlate (rho = -0.51 to -0.80; P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Tactilometry is effective in detecting neuropathy in the sole of the foot at low frequencies of mainly 8-32 Hz, indicating that at least Meissner's corpuscles, or their related large nerve fibres, are affected by diabetes. © 2012 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2012 Diabetes UK. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Diabetic Medicine
volume
29
issue
12
pages
449 - 456
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000311054600005
  • pmid:22998552
  • scopus:84869142208
  • pmid:22998552
ISSN
1464-5491
DOI
10.1111/dme.12024
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cb54defd-cede-43cb-bda9-04411672b7f1 (old id 3123787)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22998552?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:19:40
date last changed
2022-04-30 01:12:51
@article{cb54defd-cede-43cb-bda9-04411672b7f1,
  abstract     = {{AIMS: To evaluate multi-frequency tactilometry as a method to measure vibrotactile sense in the sole of the foot in subjects with diabetes. METHODS: Vibration thresholds were investigated at five frequencies (8, 16, 32, 64 and 125 Hz) at three sites (first and fifth metatarsal heads and heel) in the sole of the foot in subjects with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes (n = 37). Thresholds were compared with healthy, age- and gender-matched subjects (n = 37) and related to glycaemic levels, subjective estimation of sensation in the feet and to perception of touch. RESULTS: Vibration thresholds were significantly higher in subjects with diabetes compared with healthy subjects at low frequencies (8, 16 and 32 Hz) at all measured sites, and also at 64 Hz for the metatarsal heads. Perception of touch and subjective estimation of sensation were significantly impaired in subjects with diabetes. Glycaemic levels, which were higher in subjects with diabetes, did not correlate with vibration thresholds at 32 Hz (most sensitive to Meissner's corpuscles) or with touch thresholds in subjects with diabetes. Vibration thresholds at 32 Hz correlated significantly with perception of touch (rho = 0.45-0.65; P &lt; 0.01) and with subjective sensation (rho = -0.38 to -0.52; P &lt; 0.001) in subjects with diabetes. Perception of touch and subjective estimation of sensation did also correlate (rho = -0.51 to -0.80; P &lt; 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Tactilometry is effective in detecting neuropathy in the sole of the foot at low frequencies of mainly 8-32 Hz, indicating that at least Meissner's corpuscles, or their related large nerve fibres, are affected by diabetes. © 2012 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2012 Diabetes UK.}},
  author       = {{Nelander Wahlestedt, Jenny and Speidel, T and Björkman, Anders and Dahlin, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1464-5491}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12}},
  pages        = {{449--456}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Diabetic Medicine}},
  title        = {{Vibration thresholds are increased at low frequencies in the sole of the foot in diabetes a novel multi-frequency approach.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dme.12024}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/dme.12024}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}