PURPOSE: This study was planned to evaluate the acute effects of a short-term in-patient physiotherapy program on functional capacity in hospitalised type II diabetic patients. METHODS: Forty four hospitalised type II diabetic patients in continuing medical care at Dokuz Eylul University Hospital were included in this study. Twenty three of the 44 patients were randomised to an exercise rehabilitation group and 21 to a control group. Patients in the exercise group were assigned to an average 12.0 +/- 2.4 days low-intensity exercise rehabilitation program during hospitalisation. The control group did not receive any exercise advice. Before and after the exercise rehabilitation program all patients' functional capacity was evaluated by the 6 min walking test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the main measured parameters among groups and in the 6 min walking test at baseline. At the end of the rehabilitation program, the resting heart rate (HR) decreased by 4.1% (p < 0.05) in the exercise group by and 2.1% in control group. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased (6.2 and 2.6%) significantly in the exercise group but there were no significant changes in the control group (0.9 and 0.7%). The distance walked in the 6 min test increased significantly more in the exercise group than in the control group (18.0% versus 10.2%; p < 0.05). Estimated VO2max also increased more (28.6% versus 3.5%, p < 0.05). Moreover, the exercise group described the 6 min walk test as easier than before exercise rehabilitation. The Borg scale did not change in the control group. CONCLUSION: Supervised in-patient exercise rehabilitation is a safe and effective intervention in type II diabetic patients, which reduces physical impairment and improves functional ability.
With permission from Excerpta Medica Inc.

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