The characteristics of walking strategy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes

•64.5 percent trajectory of COP movement in elderly diabetic group was limited from heel strike to toe off during stance phase.•45.2 percent trajectory of COP abnormal foldback, most of which located at the arch.•20.5 percent COP trajectory started from the non-heel with leaning forward.•18.0 percent COP trajectory ended on the non-hallux with lateral shifting.•The displacement of the COP were asymmetrical in both feet.

ObjectiveTo explore the walking strategy by monitoring the characteristics of center of pressure (COP) of gait in the elderly with type2 diabetes.MethodsAll of the elderly patients with type2 diabetes (n = 543) were enrolled from Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. Dynamic barefoot plantar pressure was assessed by Footscan7 USB2 flat. Outcome measures included excursion, the x- and y-coordinates displacement of COP and falling frequency.ResultsThere were 64.5% of cases with abnormal COP trajectory. Among them, 45.2% were with abnormal fold-back, 14.0% with two or more abnormal fold-back, 20.5% with abnormal beginning point deviating from the heel to the arch and metatarsal region, 18.0% with abnormal terminal point deviating from the hallux to toe 2–5 and the x- and y-coordinates displacement of COP in both feet are asymmetry.ConclusionsIt highlights to put forward the walking strategy according to the abnormal COP trajectory. Due to the elderly diabetics with high risks of falling, the rehabilitation nursing should be strengthened mainly including the training of enhancing proprioception to prevent the elderly patients with type2 diabetes from falling.