RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess hand function and grip force (GF) control in non-neuropathic diabetic individuals using traditional hand function tests and instrumented handles that provide information about the underlying neural mechanisms controlling simple manipulation tasks. METHODS: Twelve diabetic individuals (31-60 years-old) without neuropathy and 12 controls performed traditional functional tests (i.e., nine hole peg test, Jebsen-Taylor test, and maximum grip strength test) and were tested for GF control in two situations: holding a free moving instrumented handle and isometrically pulling fixed handles. Task performance in the tests and safety margin (SM - percentage of GF above the minimum needed to hold the handle) were the main dependent variables assessed. RESULTS: There was no difference between diabetics and controls in any functional test and in SM in isometric pulling task. However, diabetics presented around twice lower SM than controls in the free holding task. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetics showed no impairment in functional manipulation tasks. However, they presented a lower SM than healthy controls. SIGNIFICANCE: This lower SM suggests that diabetics may present sensory impairment that could put them at risk of losing objects during its manipulation. Also, it suggests that the applied experimental procedure is sensitive to detect mild sensory impairment in diabetics.
