It has been documented that peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage outside the spinal canal) has been associated with altered gait parameters and increased risk of falls. It has been traditionally thought natural gait speed is a good indicator of risk of falls in older adults. A recent study used wearable sensors to analyze gait-related variables in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and showed that gait initiation variables and dynamic balance may be more sensitive indicators than gait speed for identifying which older adults with peripheral diabetic neuropathy are at risk of falls (Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2019 Dec 23;72:155-160)
Practically speaking, if you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy (which may cause at times numbness in legs or burning pain in feet), your physician may recommend in the near future using wearable devices to see if you are at risk of falls. Just imagine, your doctor prescribes you a sensor to see if you are at risk of falls, once the sensor detects that your gait parameters have deteriorated, you get an automatic referral to fall prevention specialist physician who examines you, finds out the exact biomechanical deficits and gives you a detailed prescription for rehabilitation even before you fall. Imagine that: rehabilitation BEFORE hip fractures…