Resistance exercise training lowers HbA1c more than aerobic training in adults with type 2 diabetes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 10 weeks of resistance or treadmill exercises on glycemic indices levels prior to and immediately following exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Research Design and Method</p> <p>Twenty inactive subjects (mean age 53.5 years) with type 2 diabetes enrolled in the study. Baseline HbA1c, blood glucose levels, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured for each subject prior to the initiation of the exercise program. Subsequently, subjects were matched to age, waist circumference and sex and assigned to either isocaloric resistance or treadmill exercise groups, which met 3 times per week for 10 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both groups showed a reduction in pre and post-exercise blood glucose and HbA1c values. There was no change in resting blood pressure or heart rate in either group during the course of the 10 week intervention. The group receiving resistance exercises showed significant differences in the daily pre-exercise plasma glucose readings between the beginning and end of the exercise protocol (p < 0.001). There were significant improvements in the mean HbA1c reading pre and post training in both groups (p < 0.001). However, the greater reduction was noted in the resistance exercise group, and at 10 weeks their HbA1c levels were significantly lower than the group that received treadmill exercises (p < 0.006).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Ten weeks of resistance exercises were associated with a significantly better glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to treadmill exercise.</p

Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire in Jordanian university students: A psychometric investigation using comparative confirmatory factor analysis

© 2020 Saudi Arabian Armed Forces Hospital. All rights reserved. Objectives: To analyze the fit of different competing factor models (a one-factor model, 3 2-factor models, and 2 4-factor models) of the Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire (LSEQ) in the data from a Jordanian student population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on university students, with 2 sleep-related tools - the LSEQ and the sleep hygiene index (SHI). The students (n=166) at Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan participated in this study from January-April, 2019. A total of 12 LSEQ models (6 models with all 10-items, and 6 models with one item deleted) were evaluated by using confirmatory factor analysis. The summary statistics of correlation coefficients, descriptive measures of item analysis, the model fit, and Cronbach’s alpha were determined. Results: The findings show that a 4-factor correlated solution was a plausible model for the LSEQ with 9-items, compared to a one-factor, 2-factor, and other 4-factor variant models. The deletion of one item from the original LSEQ improved the data fit significantly in the studied population. Moreover, correlation analysis between the LSEQ and SHI confirmed the divergent validity of the LSEQ. Conclusion: The results support the validity of a 4-factor structure of the LSEQ with 9-items with adequate internal consistency and divergent validity

Melatonin serum level, sleep functions, and depression level after bilateral anodal transcranial direct current stimulation in patients with Parkinson’s disease: a feasibility study

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with non-motor complications such as sleep disturbance and depression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) showed therapeutic effects on the motor dysfunctions. However, the potential effects of tDCS therapy on melatonin hormone, sleep dysfunctions, and depression in patients with PD still unclear. This feasibility study aimed to identify any potential changes in melatonin serum level, sleep functions and depression after the bilateral anodal tDCS in patients with PD. Material and Methods: Tensessions of bilateral anodal tDCS stimulation applied over left and right prefrontal and motor areas were given to twenty-five patients with PD. Melatonin serum level, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and geriatric depression scale examined before and after tDCS stimulation. Results: After bilateral anodal tDCS, there was a significant reduction in melatonin serum level, improvement in depression, improvements in overall sleep quality, and sleep latency. Correlations test showed significant associations between melatonin serum level reduction and changes in subjective sleep quality, and sleep duration, as well as between improvements in depression and overall sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disturbance.Conclusion: Bilateral anodal tDCS therapy was a feasible and safe tool that showed potential therapeutic effects on melatonin serum level, sleep quality, and depression level in patients with PD. Although the further large scale and randomized-control trial studies are crucially needed, there is still a need for such a feasibility study to be established before such trials can be implemented as is recommended in the new medical research council guidelines

Electrocardiographic changes with the onset of diabetes and the impact of aerobic exercise training in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat

BACKGROUND: Early markers of diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) in an electrocardiogram (ECG) include elevated R wave amplitudes, widening of QT(c )intervals and decreased heart rate variability (HRV). The severity of DAN has a direct relationship with mortality risk. Aerobic exercise training is a common recommendation for the delay and possible reversal of cardiac dysfunction. Limited research exists on ECG measures for the evaluation of aerobic exercise training in Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat, a model of type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess whether aerobic exercise training may attenuate diabetes induced ECG changes. METHODS: Male ZDF (obese fa/fa) and control Zucker (lean fa/+) rats were assigned to 4 groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary diabetic (SD), exercised control (EC) and exercised diabetic (ED). The exercised groups began 7 weeks of treadmill training after the development of diabetes in the ED group. Baseline (prior to the training) and termination measurements included body weight, heart weight, blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels and ECG parameters. One way repeated measures ANOVA (group) analyzed within and between subject differences and interactions. Pearson coefficients and descriptive statistics described variable relationships and animal characteristics. RESULTS: Diabetes caused crucial changes in R wave amplitudes (p < 0.001), heart rate variability (p < 0.01), QT intervals (p < 0.001) and QT(c )intervals (p < 0.001). R wave amplitude augmentation in SD rats from baseline to termination was ameliorated by exercise, resulting in R wave amplitude changes in ED animals similar to control rats. Aerobic exercise training neither attenuated QT or QT(c )interval prolongation nor restored decreases in HRV in diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: This study revealed alterations in R wave amplitudes, HRV, QT and QT(c )intervals in ZDF rats. Of these changes, aerobic exercise training was able to correct R wave amplitude changes. In addition, exercise has beneficial effect in this diabetic rat model in regards to ECG correlates of left ventricular mass

The Perception of Physical Therapy Students towards Their Profession in Jordan

Background: The physical therapy profession has grown rapidly in less than a century, increasing its importance, techniques, settings, and the responsibilities provided to its practitioners. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore how undergraduate physiotherapy students view physiotherapy as their future career and their perception of the educational physiotherapy programs in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A questionnaire designed to collect data on students&rsquo; perceptions of their profession was delivered to 222 undergraduate physiotherapy students at Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. The response rate was 157 (70.72%). Descriptive statistics and the chi-square test were used to analyse the data. Results: Among 157 physiotherapy students, results were collected. Although students were satisfied with being physiotherapy students (p &lt; 0.001), most of the study participants knew about physical therapy from their families, and they were not satisfied with the job opportunities in Jordan. Conclusions: Physiotherapy education in Jordan is rising rapidly. The public, patients, parents, and clinical preceptors in physiotherapy settings must recognize this educational and professional practice. It is noted that some levels of occupational awareness are intermediate. However, it would be beneficial to organize activities such as seminars and interviews in order to increase the level of professional awareness

Published online ABBREVIATION HPA Habitual physical activity

Duration and patterns of habitual physical activity in adolescents and young adults with cerebral pals