The effects of changing body posture on the peripheral nerves in normal subjects and diabetic patients

الملخص EN

Thirty nine diabetic patients , of both insulin dependent and noninsulin dependent types, and thirty four age and sex matched control subjects were included in this study in an attempt to clarify the effect of changing posture on the peripheral nerves in both groups and to clarify the effect of diabetes on the peripheral nerve by using electromyography.

Peripheral nerve dysfunction was evaluated by clinical examination, and electrophysiological testing of the somatosensory and autonomic peripheral nerves in supine and in standing position.

Sensory responses, motor responses and the minimal F-wave latency were recorded from the right and left ulnar nerves in supine and standing position.

The diabetic group show significant reduction in the sensory and motor amplitude and nerve conduction velocity with a significant prolongation of the motor inter-latency minimal F-wave latency in comparison with the control group.

Abnormal reduction of the sensory and motor NCV was significantly correlated to the severity and duration of hyperglycemia.

Also there is a significant reduction in the sensory and motor amplitude of diabetic patients on standing from supine position (more in sensory), which occur also in control subjects but in less frequency.

Lastly, we conclude that electrophysiological assessment of the function of the peripheral nerves is very essential for the diagnosis of the peripheral neuropathy that was commonly encountered in diabetes.

Also, we found that both sensory and motor fibers are affected and both segments of the nerve were involved, although the distal more than the proximal.

The underlying mechanisms were suggested to be a mixed process of axonal degeneration and demyelination, and most the changes were chronic.

Also, we found that both motor and sensory nerve fibers were affected by changing posture from supine to standing position