People with diabetic peripheral neuropathy display a decreased stepping accuracy during walking: potential implications for risk of tripping

Aim To examine the stepping accuracy of people with diabetes and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods Fourteen patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), 12 patients with diabetes but no neuropathy (D) and 10 healthy non‐diabetic control participants (C). Accuracy of stepping was measured whilst the participants walked along a walkway consisting of 18 stepping targets. Preliminary data on visual gaze characteristics were also captured in a subset of participants (diabetic peripheral neuropathy group: n = 4; diabetes‐alone group: n = 4; and control group: n = 4) during the same task. Results Patients in the diabetic peripheral neuropathy group, and patients in the diabetes‐alone group were significantly less accurate at stepping on targets than were control subjects (P