Postural stability and functional capacity in recreational athletes with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate postural stability and functional capacity in recreational athletes with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1 DM) and to compare them with healthy recreational athletes.

Materials and Methods: Sixteen recreational athletes with T1 DM (21.4 +/- 2.1 years of age, 174.3 +/- 7 cm height, 64.5 +/- 10.1 kg weight, 10.9 +/- 5.3 body fat percentage [BFP]) and 19 healthy recreational athletes (21.9 +/- 2.5 years of age, 173.1 +/- 5.2 cm height, 66.1 +/- 4 kg weight. 14.4 +/- 1.5 BFP) participated in this study. Postural stability was measured by using the one leg standing test (OLST) (static test) and single limb hopping course (SLHC) test (dynamic test). Functional capacity was evaluated by using the isokinetic muscle strength test, one-legged and triple-legged hop for distance tests, and six meter (6-m) and cross 6-m hop for time tests. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare mean values of the diabetic group (DG) with those of the control group (CG).

Results: There was no difference between groups with regards to anthropometric data except in BFP (P < 0.01) and functional capacity tests (P > 0.05). OLST (P < 0.05) and SLHC tests (P < 0.01) were significantly lower in the DG.

Conclusions: These results suggest that diabetic athletes have reduced postural stability.