Effect of Vibration on Skin Blood Flow in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Recent researches support the use of passive vibration (PV) to increase circulation without the risk of burns. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of short duration vibration on skin blood flow (SBF) in Type 2 diabetics. Materials and Method: 18 subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus between 47-74 years of age, and 18 age matched controls between 50-75 years of age received PV on the anterior aspect of forearm and on plantar aspect of first three metatarsal heads. SBF was measured before, after and 10 minutes post vibration.

Results: There was a significant difference in the foot and forearm SBF across time for both groups. However, there was no significant difference in foot and forearm SBF across time between the groups. Greatest percent increase was seen in the diabetic foot SBF (118.53%) from baseline to end of vibration vs. non diabetic foot (37.62 %). Also, looking 10 minutes post, there was a less change in diabetic foot SBF (-15.25%) vs. non diabetic foot (-27.64%). There was only a slight increase from the start to the end of the vibration in diabetic subjects (129.78%) vs. non diabetic subjects (127.97%). There was no significant change on the foot SBF vs. the forearm at the baseline, at the end of vibration and at 10 minutes post between the groups (F=.679, P=.476).

Conclusion: The diabetes mellitus group with fair to good glucose control responded similarly to PV as compared to non-diabetes mellitus group although there was no significant difference in foot and forearm SBF across time between the groups.