Assessment of Range of Motion in Selected Upper Limb Joints of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Control

Limitation in joint mobility was recognized as the most common and earliest long-term complication of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study assessed the range of motion in selected joints of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and compared it with aged matched apparently healthy individuals
Fifty subjects volunteered to participate in the study this comprised of 25 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus and 25 age matched apparently healthy individuals.
The range of motion of the joints of shoulder, wrist thumb, index and the middle fingers of diabetics and normal subjects were measured with a full circle universal goniometer using standard protocol. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at 0.05
The result showed that there was significant difference between the range of motion of the measured joints; shoulder (t=-23, p=0.000), metacarpophalangeal joints of the index finger in flexion (t=7.056, p=0.000) and in extension (t=-13.548, p=0.000) in diabetics and non-diabetic subjects (p<0.005).
In conclusion, limited joint mobility occurs in subjects with type 2 diabetics as one of the complications of the disease