Correlation of execution time of the walking test between force platform and BESTest in diabetic individuals

Method Forty-two type-2-diabetic male and female volunteers aged between 45 and 64 yrs. old were recruited for study, all with their glycaemic levels controlled and being physically active. Gait was assessed as follows: 1) gait test on plane surface for clinical balance evaluation (BESTest) and 2) Walk Across test on Neurocom Balance Master Sistem platform at distances of 6 m and 1.5 m, respectively. Analyses: Data distribution was verified with the Shapiro-Wilk test and application of Pearson’s correlation at significance level of 5%. Magnitude of the correlations was based on the Munro’s classification (low: 0.26 to 0.49; moderate: 0.50 to 0.69; high: 0.70 to 0.89; very high: 090 to 1.00). For data processing, the SPSS software version 17.0 was used at significant level of 5%. Results Forty-two diabetic male and female subjects with mean age of 55.2±6.4, mean height of 1.65±0.08m, and mean BMI of 80.64±13.9Kg were assessed. Significant positive and moderate correlations (r=0.574) were found between the times (in seconds) taken for the distances covered in the platform (2.43±0.44) and BESTest (6.32±1.33).