Preliminary findings in the heart rate variability and haemorheology response to varied frequency and duration of walking in women 65–74 yr with type 2 diabetes

• Published in: Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 87 - 99
• Main Authors: Simmonds, Michael J., Minahan, Clare L., Serre, Kevin R., Gass, Gregory C., Marshall-Gradisnik, Sonya M., Haseler, Luke J., Sabapathy, Surendran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Aged; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Erythrocyte Aggregation; Erythrocyte Deformability; Exercise - physiology; Female; Heart Rate - physiology; Hemorheology; Humans; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Walking - physiology; Aggregation; exercise; deformability; training; erythrocyte
• ISSN: 1386-0291; 1875-8622; 1875-8622
• DOI: 10.3233/CH-2011-1514

Heart rate variability (HRV) and haemorheology adaptations to 12 wk of varied-dose treadmill walking were investigated in women aged 65–74 yr with type 2 diabetes. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups where exercise frequency and session duration were manipulated (Group 1 : 2 × 60 min·wk−1 or Group 2 : 4 × 30 min·wk−1), but intensity and accumulated weekly duration of exercise were consistent between groups (100% gas-exchange threshold; 120 min·wk−1). Twelve weeks of exercise training significantly improved peak oxygen uptake, time to exhaustion, and gas-exchange threshold (p < 0.05), independent of exercise group. Exercise training did not significantly change glycaemic control or body mass. Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and RBC deformability significantly decreased (p < 0.05) for both groups. No change in HRV was observed for Group 1, whereas several key indicators of HRV were significantly improved in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The present study was the first to report decreased RBC aggregation following an exercise-only intervention and that exercise training improved RBC aggregation without a concomitant improvement in glycaemic control. The accumulated weekly exercise duration may be the most important training component for the prescription of exercise in older women with type 2 diabetes.