Minimal difference between aerobic and progressive resistance exercise on metabolic profile and fitness in older adults with diabetes mellitus: a randomised trial.

QUESTION Is progressive resistance training as effective as aerobic training of similar duration in sedentary older adults with diabetes mellitus? DESIGN A randomised trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS Sixty people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) between 8% and 10% in the past month. INTERVENTION One group undertook progressive resistance exercise and the other group undertook aerobic exercise. Both groups completed 18 sessions over 8 weeks. In each session, the progressive resistance exercise group did nine resistive exercises while the aerobic exercise group did 50 minutes of aerobic exercise. OUTCOME MEASURES HbA1c, blood glucose, lipid profile (total, high- and low-density cholesterol and triglycerides), weight, body mass index, body fat, waist circumference, waist:hip ratio, blood pressure, and peak oxygen consumption. RESULTS Forty-nine (82%) participants completed the intervention. HbA1c reduced by a similar amount in both groups (MD 0.1%, 95% CI -0.3 to 0.5). However, significant between-group differences occurred in change in waist circumference in favour of progressive resistance exercise (MD -1.8 cm, 95% CI -0.5 to -3.1), and in change in peak oxygen consumption in favour of aerobic exercise (MD 5.2 ml/kg, 95% CI 0.0 to 10.4). CONCLUSIONS Progressive resistance exercise has similar effects to aerobic exercise and therefore offers a useful alternative for patients unable to participate in aerobic exercise. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01000519.