Effects of Resistance and Combined training on Vascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Effects of Traditional Chinese Exercises on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Currently, most studies on the health benefits of traditional Chinese exercises on type 2 diabetes mellitus have explored the effects of a single type of traditional Chinese exercise on type 2 diabetes. Although a previous study evaluated the combined clinical effects of traditional Chinese exercises on type 2 diabetes, the studies included in that review were deficient in their study design. In addition, previous studies have not explored the ideal exercise dose that should be taken by patients with type 2 diabetes when performing traditional Chinese exercises.

OBJECTIVE

To understand whether the findings of previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses are still applicable and to try to address the deficiencies in the previous review, this review conducted a meta-analysis of existing randomized controlled trials to investigate the impact of traditional Chinese exercises on glycemic control with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

The literature was searched in seven Chinese and English databases. Randomized controlled trials published in English and Chinese, from database inception to March 2023, were included in this review. Two reviewers independently reviewed the search results, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias. A meta-analysis of the included studies was conducted using Rev Man 5.4 and Stata 15.1 software. Heterogeneity was investigated using a sensitivity analysis, a subgroup analysis, and a meta-regression analysis. Pre-determined subgroups included the duration of the intervention, frequency of exercise, and duration of the single exercise session.

RESULTS

A total of 31 randomized controlled trials (2077 subjects) were selected in this review. The meta-analysis revealed that traditional Chinese exercises were more effective than control groups in lowering glycated hemoglobin (Z = 6.06; mean difference [MD] =  - 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.85, - 0.44; P < 0.00001), fasting blood glucose (Z = 7.81; MD =  - 0.82, 95% CI - 1.03, - 0.62; P < 0.00001), 2-h plasma glucose (Z = 5.61; MD =  - 1.03, 95% CI - 1.39, - 0.67; P < 0.00001), total cholesterol (Z = 4.23; MD =  - 0.37, 95% CI - 0.54, - 0.20; P < 0.0001), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Z = 5.94; MD = 0.12, 95% CI 0.08, 0.16; P < 0.00001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Z = 6.20; MD =  - 0.34, 95% CI - 0.44, - 0.23; P < 0.00001), and triglyceride levels (Z = 3.74; MD =  - 0.44, 95% CI - 0.67, - 0.21; P = 0.0002) among patients with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Traditional Chinese exercises can significantly improve blood glucose and lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. When performing traditional Chinese exercise interventions for type 2 diabetes, it is recommended that exercise programs are designed for 30-50 min/session, 4-5 sessions/week for at least 3 months.

The Effectiveness and Optimal Dose of Resistance Training in Patients With Subacute and Persistent Low Back-Related Leg Pain: A Systematic Review

A subgroup of patients with low back pain (LBP) suffers from low back-related leg pain (LBLP), which can be classified as radicular pain, or somatic referred pain without nerve root involvement. LBLP is considered an obstacle to recovery and a strong negative prognostic factor for medium- and long-term disability. In this review, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness and optimal dose of resistance training (RT) in patients with subacute or persistent LBLP to provide clinical recommendations for practice. This systematic review was conducted by adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients ≥18 years of age were included. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using "the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias" (RoB) and the inter-rater agreement for full-text selection was evaluated using Cohen's Kappa (K). The search elicited a total of 4.537 records, and two RCTs involving a total of 196 participants were identified through a selection process based on title, abstract, and full-text assessment. Both studies had a low to moderate risk of bias. The inter-examiner concordance index for the selection of full text was excellent (K=1). RT seems to be an effective and safe intervention for patients with LBLP, but its long-term effectiveness, superiority over other types of exercise-based therapies, and optimal dosage still constitute a gray area in the literature.

Resistance Exercise Training in Individuals With and Without Cardiovascular Disease: 2023 Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Resistance training not only can improve or maintain muscle mass and strength, but also has favorable physiological and clinical effects on cardiovascular disease and risk factors. This scientific statement is an update of the previous (2007) American Heart Association scientific statement regarding resistance training and cardiovascular disease. Since 2007, accumulating evidence suggests resistance training is a safe and effective approach for improving cardiovascular health in adults with and without cardiovascular disease. This scientific statement summarizes the benefits of resistance training alone or in combination with aerobic training for improving traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. We also address the utility of resistance training for promoting cardiovascular health in varied healthy and clinical populations. Because less than one-third of US adults report participating in the recommended 2 days per week of resistance training activities, this scientific statement provides practical strategies for the promotion and prescription of resistance training.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE - EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RESISTANCE TRAINING INTENSITIES ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

AIMS

the objective of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of different resistance training (RT) intensities compared with group control (GC) or control conditions (CON) on endothelial function (EF) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

seven electronic databases were searched Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro and CINAHL) until February 2021.

RESULTS

this systematic review retrieved a total of 2,991 studies of which 29 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Four studies were included in the systematic review compared RT intervention with GC or CON. One study demonstrated an increase in blood flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery immediately after (95% CI: 3.0% to 5.9%; p<0.05), 60 minutes after (95% CI: 0.8 % to 4.2%; p<0.05) and 120 minutes after (95%CI: 0.7% to 3.1%; p<0.05) a single high-intensity resistance training session (RPE ∼ 5 "hard"), compared to the control condition. Nevertheless, this increase was not significantly demonstrated in three longitudinal studies (more than 8 weeks).

CONCLUSIONS

this systematic review suggest that a single session of high-intensity resistance training improves the EF of people with T2DM. More studies are needed to establish the ideal intensity and effectiveness for this training method.

Impact of Exercise Training Interventions on Flow-Mediated Dilation in Adults: An Umbrella Review

BACKGROUND

Dysfunction of the endothelium is a key precursor of cardiovascular disease. Endothelial function, as assessed via the flow-mediated dilation test, is attenuated with chronic disease (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension). Exercise training may mitigate this dysfunction and promote better vascular health.

OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this umbrella review was to determine the impact of exercise training on flow-mediated dilation in healthy adults and those with chronic disease.

METHODS

Studies were included if they conducted a systematic review and/or meta-analysis on flow-mediated dilation responses to exercise interventions in adults. Sources were searched in January 2022 and included Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Academic Search Premier. National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools were used. The results were presented narratively.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven systematic reviews, including 19 meta-analyses, (total: 5464 unique participants, 2181 reported unique female individuals) met the inclusion criteria. The average overall quality of included reviews was 8.8/11. The quality of studies within each included review varied from low to moderate using a variety of quality assessment scales. Reviews were conducted in healthy adults (n = 9, meta-analyses = 6), as well as those with type 2 diabetes (n = 5, meta-analyses = 4), cardiovascular conditions [i.e., conditions that impact the cardiovascular system, but excluding samples of only type 2 diabetes] (n = 11, meta-analyses = 7), and other chronic conditions (n = 2, meta-analyses = 2). Overall, the included reviews provided evidence that the type of training to optimally improve FMD may vary based on disease condition. Specifically, the evidence suggests that healthy adults benefitted most from higher intensity aerobic training and/or more frequent low-to-moderate resistance training. In addition, adults with type 2 diabetes benefitted most from low-intensity resistance or aerobic exercise training, whereas those with cardiovascular conditions should consider engaging in high-intensity aerobic training to improve endothelial function.

CONCLUSIONS

This information may help guide the design of specific exercise programs or recommendations for adults with chronic conditions.

Does Aerobic plus Machine-Assisted Resistance Training Improve Vascular Function in Type 2 Diabetes? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials with Trial Sequential Analysis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and pancreatic B cell dysfunction. Hyperglycemia can cause several complications, including nephrological, neurological, ophthalmological, and vascular complications. Many modalities, such as medication, physical therapies, and exercise, are developed against vascular disorders. Among all exercise forms, aerobic plus machine-assisted resistance training is widely applied. However, whether this intervention can significantly improve vascular conditions remains controversial. In this study, an electronic search was processed for the Pubmed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of aerobic plus machine-assisted resistance training with no exercise (control) on patients with T2DM. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), the index of arterial stiffness, was chosen as primary outcome. The reliability of the pooled outcome was tested by trial sequential analysis (TSA). Secondary outcomes included systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Finally, five RCTs with a total of 328 patients were included. Compared with control, aerobic plus machine-assisted resistance training failed to provide significant improvement on PWV (MD −0.54 m/s, 95% CI [−1.69, 0.60], p = 0.35). On the other hand, TSA indicated that this results till needs more verifications. Additionally, this training protocol did not significantly decrease SBP (MD −1.05 mmHg, 95% CI [−3.71, 1.61], p = 0.44), but significantly reduced the level of HbA1c (MD −0.55%, 95% CI [−0.88, −0.22], p = 0.001). In conclusion, this meta-analysis failed to detect a direct benefit of aerobic plus machine-assisted resistance training on vascular condition in T2DM population. Yet the improvement in HbA1c implied a potential of this training method in mitigating vascular damage. More studies are needed to verify the benefit.

Whole-Body Vibration Associated with Strength Training on the Lower-Limb Blood Flow and Mobility in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Vascular endothelium insults caused by high serum glucose levels affect the oxygen supply to tissues, via the microvascular endothelium, resulting in an increased perfusion heterogeneity. These insults may lead to the underuse of blood capillaries, while other vessels are overused and effectively overload their oxygen supply capacity, which eventually causes damages to distal parts of the peripheral nervous system. Therefore, the proprioceptive and exteroceptive feedback information will be gradually lost and contribute to a mobility reduction. This study aims to assess the efficacy of whole-body vibration (WBV) associated with strength training (ST) on lower-limb blood flow and mobility in older adults with type 2 diabetes (DM2). Methods and analyses: This is a protocol (1st version) for Pa single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial guided by the SPIRIT guidelines. Our sample will consist of 51 older adults with DM2 randomly allocated to three groups: low frequency WBV (16−26 Hz) associated to ST (G1), WBV sham (G2) and nonintervention control (G3). The study protocol is set for a 12-week (three times per week) schedule. Primary outcomes: skin temperature using infrared thermographic imaging (ITI); mean peripheral arterial blood flow velocity (MBF) by a handheld Doppler ultrasound (DU), and functional mobility by Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Secondary outcomes: quasi-static posture using the DX100 BTS Smart optoelectronic system, and plantar pressure and body balance using the MPS stabilometric platform. Data will be collected and analyzed at baseline and post-intervention, considering p-value < 0.05 level of significance. The analyses will also be conducted with an intention-to-treat method and effect size. Dissemination: All results will be published in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented in conferences.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Improves Endothelial Function in Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving endothelial function in coronary artery disease patients. Therefore, this systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to (a) estimate the training-induced effect on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function, assessed by flow-mediated dilation and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, respectively, in coronary artery disease patients; and to (b) study the influence of potential trial-level variables (i. e. study and intervention characteristics) on the training-induced effect on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle function. Electronic searches were performed in Pubmed, Scopus, and Embase up to February 2021. Random-effects models of standardised mean change were estimated. Heterogeneity analyses were performed by using the Chi ² test and I ² index. Our results showed that exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation significantly enhanced flow-mediated dilation (1.04 [95% confidence interval=0.76 to 1.31]) but did not significantly change nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (0.05 [95% confidence interval=-0.03 to 0.13]). Heterogeneity testing reached statistical significance (p<.001) with high inconsistency for flow-mediated dilation (I ² =92%). Nevertheless, none of the analysed variables influenced the training-induced effect on flow-mediated dilation. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation seems to be an effective therapeutic strategy for improving endothelial-dependent dilation in coronary artery disease patients, which may aid in the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Physical Activity Frequency Among Older Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: Associations With Sociodemographics, Comorbidity, and Medical Advice

To examine the differences in physical activity (PA) between older adults with and without diabetes/prediabetes and the correlates of PA frequency and associations between medical advice on PA and/or diet/weight loss and increasing PA among those with diabetes/prediabetes. Multinomial and binary logistic regression models using 2016-2017 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 4,860 aged 65+ years with diabetes/prediabetes). About 44.2% of those with diabetes/prediabetes, compared with 48.1% of a matched sample without, engaged in any PA three plus times a week. The low PA group (PA frequency was zero to two times a week) was more socioeconomically disadvantaged and had more chronic illnesses than the medium (three to four times a week) or high (five plus times a week) PA groups. Any PA and/or diet/weight loss medical advice was associated with two to three times higher odds of increasing PA. Health care providers should consider prescribing PA and/or diet/weight loss for patients with diabetes/prediabetes.