Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether lower extremity sensorimotor peripheral nerve
deficits are associated with reduced walking endurance in older adults. DESIGN:
Prospective cohort study with 6 years of follow-up.
SETTING: Two university
research clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older adults enrolled in the
Health, Aging and Body Composition Study from the 2000-2001 annual clinical
examination (N=2393; mean age +/- SD, 76.5+/-2.9y; 48.2% men; 38.2% black) and a
subset with longitudinal data
(n=1178). INTERVENTIONS:
Not applicable. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants underwent peripheral nerve function examination in
2000-2001, including peroneal motor nerve conduction amplitude and velocity,
vibration perception threshold, and monofilament testing. Symptoms of lower
extremity peripheral neuropathy included numbness or tingling and sudden
stabbing, burning, pain, or aches in the feet or legs.
The Long Distance Corridor
Walk (LDCW) (400m) was administered in 2000-2001 and every 2 years afterward for
6 years to assess endurance walking performance over time. RESULTS: In separate,
fully adjusted linear mixed models, poor vibration threshold (>130mum), 10-g and
1.4-g monofilament insensitivity were each associated with a slower 400-m walk
completion time (16.0s, 14.4s, and 6.9s slower, respectively; P<.05 for each).
Poor motor amplitude (<1mV), poor vibration perception threshold, and 10-g
monofilament insensitivity were related to greater slowing per year (4.7, 4.2,
and 3.8 additional seconds per year, respectively; P<.05), although poor motor
amplitude was not associated with initial completion time. CONCLUSIONS: Poorer
sensorimotor peripheral nerve function is related to slower endurance walking and
greater slowing longitudinally. Interventions to reduce the burden of
sensorimotor peripheral nerve function impairments should be considered to help
older adults maintain walking endurance-a critical component for remaining
independent in the community.
CI - Copyright (c) 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS