Correlação de equilíbrio e preensão palmar em idosas diabéticas sedentárias e ativas

Abstract

Aging decreases the vitality and fosters the emergence of diseases, among which stands out Diabetes Mellitus (DM), which is associated with various musculoskeletal and neuropathies disorders, among these factors was observed respectively the hand grip strength decreasing and the balance deficit. Objective: To verify the correlation of balance and hand grip strength in elderly diabetic sedentary and active patients. Methodology: The study was conducted with 36 elderly diabetic patients divided into two groups: Group 1 consists in a group of 18 active elderly women treated in the diabetes area of the clinic school of physiotherapy at Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB), aged between 69.5 ± 6.7 years old and Group 2 consists in a group of 18 sedentary elderly women treated at the outpatient health center Nº 1 located in Ceilândia Sul, with an average age of 69.0 ± 6.8 years old. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson correlation and Student t test. Results: When checking the bilateral hand grip strength with the oscillations, it was observed moderate and inverse correlation between hand grip strength on the right with latero-lateral oscillation in Group 1. Group 2 had significantly higher values for anteroposterior oscillation [t (34) = 2.57, p = 0.01]. There was a trend in Group 1, which showed lower values for the measures of the center of balance (p = 0.06). Conclusion: For all the changes seen in the results, physiotherapy can help increase muscle strength and improve body balance reducing the risk of falls. Further studies are suggested to ratify such statements.