Assessment of the effect of time in the repeatability of the stabilometric parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects during bipedal standing using the LorAn pressure distribution measurement system

This study was designed to assess the effect of time on the repeatability of the LorAn pressure distribution measurement system, and evaluate the variability of plantar pressure and postural balance, during barefoot standing in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, for future diabetic foot clinical evaluation. Fourteen subjects were evaluated (8 females, 6 males, 8 non-diabetics and 6 diabetics, age range 30–70 years) and had no musculoskeletal symptoms. Four variables were measured with the platform in the barefoot standing position. Ten measurements were taken using two different techniques for feet and posture positioning, during three sessions, once a week. The MANOVA test confirmed that the platform measurements are reproducible for variables body baricenter (x) and foot baricenter (x) through time, being the coefficients of variation, with a 99% confidence interval, lower than 1.6% for body baricenter (x), and lower than 2.06% for foot baricenter (x), for all studied conditions. For the remaining variables, the results were not stabilized through time, which makes necessary to standardize the measurement protocol that guarantees the repeatability in all variables.