Effects of combined aerobic and resistance physical training on pulmonary and respiratory muscle function in diabetics with overweight and obesity

Abstract

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a major health concern around the world and may result in a decreased pulmonary function, respiratory muscle performance and functional status.

Aim: To evaluate the chronic responses of combined physical training (CPT) on pulmonary and respiratory muscle function in T2DM with overweight or obesity.

Methods: 35 participants with T2DM, body mass index > 24.99 and <35kg/m², were allocated in control group (CG) with 19 and a CPT group (CPTG) with 16. In the pre and post-experimental period, pulmonary function was assessed by lung volumes and capacities and the respiratory muscle by dynamic maximum inspiratory pressure (DMIP), static maximum inspiratory pressure (SMIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and sustained maximum inspiratory pressure (SustMIP). The CPT program consisted of strength training (30 min, 1-3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions, 50 to 75% of 1RM) followed by aerobic training (35 min 50-60% of VO2max) in the same session, performed 3 times a week for 16 weeks.

Results: In the post-experimental period, regarding pulmonary function, no significant differences were found, however, the maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) was higher at CPTG (p = 0.001), the maximum respiratory pressures showed higher values for the DMIP (p = 0.005), SMIP (p = 0.01) and SustMIP (p = 0.004) in the CPTG but there were no changes to MEP.

Conclusion: The CPT proposed contributes to the improvement of the strength and endurance of the respiratory muscles in overweight and obese diabetics. Therefore, CPT should be widely recommended to patients with T2DM. FAPESP 2016/08751-3 - PQ-303571/2018-7