Coefficient of Friction at the Fingertips in Type II Diabetics Compared to Healthy Adults

in Journal of Applied Biomechanics

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Beatriz H. ThamesUniversity of Houston

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Stacey L. GorniakUniversity of Houston

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2016-0147
Keywords:
tactile; hand; finger; type II diabetes; friction; sensory function
First Published Online:
26 Jun 2017
In Print:
Volume 33: Issue 3
Page Range:
185–188
Restricted access

Clinical observations suggest that type II diabetes patients are more susceptible to skin changes, which may be associated with reduced coefficient of friction at the fingertips. Reduced coefficient of friction may explain recent reports of fine motor dysfunction in diabetic patients. Coefficient of friction was evaluated using slip force evaluation in a cross-sectional cohort of diabetic patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Covariates of tactile sensation, disease duration, glycated hemoglobin, and clinical diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy were also assessed. A significant decrease in fingertip coefficient of friction in the diabetic group was found as compared to controls. Health state covariates did not alter the strength of between-group differences in statistical analyses. This finding of between-group differences for fingertip frictional properties suggests that causative factors of reported manual motor dysfunction lie in both the distal and proximal portions of the nervous system.

Thames is with the Department of Health and Human Performance, Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Gorniak is with the Department of Health and Human Performance, Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research, Texas Obesity Research Center, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.

Address author correspondence to Stacey L. Gorniak at sgorniak@uh.edu.
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