FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF GAIT WITH INSOLE USE IN DIABETIC FEMALE RATS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is characterized by causing damage to the peripheral nervous system, generating sensory and motor changes. Objective: This study aims at analyzing the impact of the use of different orthotic insoles on the gait of diabetic female rats. Methods: Twenty-six female Wistar rats were randomly divided into the Control and Diabetic groups. The mechanical sensitivity test was performed manually on the surface of the animals' hind paws using the von Frey test. The functional evaluation was carried out on an adapted platform where the animals were stimulated to walk in order to capture images of the ventral region for measurements of the right and left hind paws. After the images were collected they were processed using Kinovea software version 0.8.27 to assess: stride distance, time, speed and acceleration. Results: There was a reduction in the weight of the animals in the Diabetic Group (p = 0.0018), associated with hyperglycemia (p = <0.0001), and a decrease in mechanical sensitivity as compared to the Control Group (p = 0.0372). Gait analysis showed a reduction in stride speed (p = 0.0482) and acceleration (p = 0.0149), with the silicone orthosis in the Diabetic Group. Conclusions: The silicone orthosis demonstrated a reduction in stride speed and acceleration, without compromising the other variables in the diabetic rats. The other insoles showed no functional difference between groups. Even though the animals showed a change in sensitivity at the end of 28 days of DM induction, this time does not appear to have been able to develop extensive changes in the rats' gait function. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - Investigating the Results of Treatment.