Balance training reduces falls risk in older individuals with type 2 diabetes

Steven Morrison, Sheri R Colberg, Mira Mariano, Henri K Parson, Arthur I Vinik, Steven Morrison, Sheri R Colberg, Mira Mariano, Henri K Parson, Arthur I Vinik

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the effects of balance/strength training on falls risk and posture in older individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: Sixteen individuals with type 2 diabetes and 21 age-matched control subjects (aged 50-75 years) participated. Postural stability and falls risk was assessed before and after a 6-week exercise program.

Results: Diabetic individuals had significantly higher falls risk score compared with control subjects. The diabetic group also exhibited evidence of mild-to-moderate neuropathy, slower reaction times, and increased postural sway. Following exercise, the diabetic group showed significant improvements in leg strength, faster reaction times, decreased sway, and, consequently, reduced falls risk.

Conclusions: Older individuals with diabetes had impaired balance, slower reactions, and consequently a higher falls risk than age-matched control subjects. However, all these variables improved after resistance/balance training. Together these results demonstrate that structured exercise has wide-spread positive effects on physiological function for older individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in the falls risk (A) and average hand and foot simple reaction times (B) between control and type 2 diabetic groups. Mean values are shown for each group prior to and following the exercise intervention. Error bars represent 1 SE of the mean. For the falls risk, significant differences were observed between the groups prior to exercise (*1) and, for the type 2 diabetic group only, following training (*2). For the reaction time (RT) results, significant differences were observed in the hand and foot reaction time values between the groups prior to exercise (*3). Following training, the type 2 diabetes exhibited a significant reduction in both foot and hand reaction time values (*4). For the control subjects, only the hand reaction time values showed a decrease after training (*5).

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