Functional Exercise Improves Mobility Performance in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
in Journal of Physical Activity and HealthBackground: Diabetes-related disability occurs in approximately two-thirds of older adults with diabetes and is associated with loss of independence, increased health care resource utilization, and sedentary lifestyle. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of a center-based functional circuit exercise training intervention followed by a 10-week customized home-based program in improving mobility function in sedentary older adults with diabetes. Methods: Participants (n = 111; mean age 70.5 [7.1] y; mean body mass index 32.7 [5.9] kg/m2) were randomized to either a moderate-intensity functional circuit training (FCT) plus 10-week home program to optimize physical activity (FCT-PA) primary intervention or one of 2 comparison groups (FCT plus health education [FCT-HE] or flexibility and toning plus health education [FT-HE]). Results: Compared with FT-HE, FCT-PA improvements in comfortable gait speed of 0.1 m/s (P < .05) and 6-minute walk of 80 ft were consistent with estimates of clinically meaningful change. At 20 weeks, controlling for 10-week outcomes, improvements were found between groups for comfortable gait speed (FCT-PA vs FT-HE and FCT-HE vs FT-HE) and 6-minute walk (FCT-PA vs FCT-HE). Conclusions: Functional exercise training can improve mobility in overweight/obese older adults with diabetes and related comorbidities. Future studies should evaluate intervention sustainability and adaptations for those with more severe mobility impairments.
Gretebeck is with the College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI. Blaum is with Diane & Arthur Belfer Geriatric Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine & Palliative Care, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Moore is with the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. Brown is with the School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI. Galecki is with the Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Strasburg is with the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Mobility Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Chen is with Biostatistics Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. Alexander is with the Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and the Ann Arbor VA Health Care System GRECC.
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