Which field test should be used to compare the functional exercise capacities of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without diabetic peripheral neuropathy? Cross-sectional study

• Published in: Endocrinología, diabetes y nutrición. diabetes y nutrición., 2023-04, Vol.70 (4), p.277-285
• Main Authors: Corut, Hande, Savci, Sema, Ozcan Kahraman, Buse, Tanrıverdı, Aylin, Adıyaman, Süleyman Cem, Acar, Serap, Bayraktar, Fırat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capacidad de ejercicio funcional; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes mellitus tipo 2; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetic Neuropathies; Diabetic peripheral neuropathy; Exercise Test - methods; Functional exercise capacity; Humans; Neuropatía diabética periférica; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Walk Test - methods
• ISSN: 2530-0180; 2530-0180
• DOI: 10.1016/j.endien.2023.02.007

The 6-minute step test (6MST) has begun to be used as a simple and effective alternative for assessing functional exercise capacity. There is no study using 6MSTs to evaluate the exercise capacities of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). To compare the cardiorespiratory responses of the 6-minute walk test (MWT) and the 6MST exercise tests and to analyze the usability of the 6MST in Type 2 DM patients with and without neuropathy. 32 non-neuropathic Type 2 DM, 32 neuropathic Type 2 DM patients, and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional study. Functional exercise capacity was evaluated with the 6MWT and the 6MST. The 30-second sit-stand test (30s STS) was used to evaluate general lower extremity muscle strength and function. There was a significant difference in the results of 6MWT (m), 6MST (number of steps), and 30s STS of the three groups (p