Physiotherapists' experience of using the abbreviated diagnostic criteria for diabetic and non‐diabetic patients

This study aimed to examine the positivity rate of the abbreviated diagnostic criteria proposed by the Diabetic Neuropathy Study Group in Japan. The medical records of the participants were retrospectively examined and classified as DPN+ for diabetes with neuropathy, DPN- for diabetes without neuropathy, and NDM for patients without diabetes. After interviewing patients for subjective symptoms, we conducted vibration sensation and Achilles tendon reflex tests. The results showed that the mean value of vibratory sensation time was 8.3±2.0 seconds in the NDM, 8.5±2.3 seconds in the DPN-, and 5.9±2.3 seconds in the DPN+ groups. The DPN- group had a significantly longer vibratory sensation time compared to the DPN+. There were participants whose vibration sensing time, one of the diagnostic criteria, was less than 10 seconds, even in the NDM. Furthermore, participants were categorized into four groups based on age. The mean value of vibratory sensation time in DPN+ was significantly lower in NDM and DPN-, each all‐age groups. Except for the NDM group of 71 years or older, there was no age‐related decrease in vibratory sensation values. However, it has been shown that there are changes in neural mechanisms associated with aging, increases in sensory thresholds, and differences in vibratory sensation depending on the measurement site. It is necessary to accumulate more data to study the effect of aging on the vibration sensation and measurement site. In recent years, there have been many reports of diabetic neuropathy affecting motor function. Therefore, it seems necessary to include motor function in the physiotherapy evaluation of diabetic patients with neuropathy due to ADC.