Altered accelerator pedal control in a driving simulator in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

This study set out to investigate whether the sensory‐motor impairment attributable to diabetic peripheral neuropathy would affect control of the accelerator pedal during a driving simulator task.

A total of 32 active drivers, 11 with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (mean ± sd age 67±5.0 years), 10 with diabetes but no neuropathy (diabetes group; mean ± sd age 62±10 years), and 11 healthy individuals without diabetes (healthy group; mean ± sd age 60±11 years), undertook a test on a dynamometer to assess ankle plantar flexor muscle strength and ankle joint proprioception function of the right leg, in addition to a driving simulator task.

The results showed that participants with diabetic peripheral neuropathy had a lower speed of strength generation (P<0.001), lower maximal ankle plantar flexor muscle strength (P<0.001) and impaired ankle proprioception (P=0.034) compared to healthy participants. The researchers concluded that muscle function, ankle proprioception and accelerator pedal control are all affected in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, adversely influencing driving performance, but potential for improvement with targeted practice remains possible.