Effect of Tai Chi Chaun exercise on glycemic control and aerobic capacity in niddm patients

Abstract

To determine the effect of TCC exercise on glycemic control and aerobic capacity in NIDDM (type 2) patients. Sixteen participants (11 women and 5 men, mean age 58.81+-5 yr) were sedentary, type 2 diabetics, on an oral hypo-glycemic drug, insulin, and no specified diet regimen at study onset and throughout this period. Exercise TCC about 1 hour thrice per week for 16 weeks. Body weight, percent body fat, flexibility, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc), lipid profile, and cardiorespiratory fitness were evaluated at baseline (first week), in the middle (8 week), and at the end (16 weeks) of TCC program. The result showed that 34 per cent significantly increase in flexibility at eighteenth weeks and 60 per cent of TCC exercise at sixteenth weeks in comparison with a first week (p<0.05). FPG and HbAlc significantly decrease 15% (p<0.05) and 13% (p<0.01), respectively from baseline to sixteen weeks. No significant change was foundin body weight, percent body fat, lipid profile. In addition, these subjects showed 10% significantly increase in VO2peak and 12% increase in peak work rate at the peak exercise (p<0.05). At the ventilatory threshold, the increment of 12% was found in VO2 and 55% in work rate (p<0.05) in comparison between first week and sixteenth weeks. Exercise intensity was estimated to 70% of maximal heart rate from peak exercise test, which corresponds to moderate exercise intensity.