Effect of 12-week tai chi chuan exercise on peripheral nerve modulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of tai chi chuan exercise on peripheral nerve modulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Parallel group comparative study with a pre- and post- design.


METHODS
Twenty-eight participants with diabetes mellitus and 32 healthy adult controls from communities in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.


METHODS
Cheng's tai chi chuan, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose levels, insulin resistance index and nerve conduction studies were measured.


RESULTS
A 12-week tai chi chuan programme significantly improved fasting blood glucose (p = 0.035) and increased nerve conduction velocities in all nerves tested (p = 0.046, right; p = 0.041, left) in diabetic patients. Tai chi chuan exercise did not advance the nerve conduction velocities of normal adults; however, it significantly improved the motor nerve conduction velocities of bilateral median and tibial nerves, and distal sensory latencies of bilateral ulnar nerves in diabetic patients. Tai chi chuan exercise had no significant effect on amplitudes of all nerves tested in diabetic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study suggest that fasting blood glucose and peripheral nerve conduction velocities in diabetic patients can be improved by 12 weeks tai chi chuan exercise. A further larger randomized controlled clinical trial with longer follow-up time is needed.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung Hsiang, Taiwan.
Jen-Wen
JW
Hung
Chia-Wei
CW
Liou
Pei-Wen
PW
Wang
Shu-Hui
SH
Yeh
Li-Wei
LW
Lin
Sing-Kai
SK
Lo
Fu-Mian
FM
Tsai
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D026302:Tai Ji; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose