LE3 .A278 2015

2015

Fowles, Jonathon

Acadia University

Bachelor of Kinesiology

Honours

Kinesiology

Kinesiology

Type 2 diabetes has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. Physical activity has been shown to be a central component to both prevention and management of the disease, and both aerobic and resistance training have been effective at acutely lowering blood glucose levels and improving glycemic control long term. The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) guidelines recommend approximately 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise weekly, and an additional 2 or 3 resistance training sessions, but it is clear that these guidelines are not being met, as individuals with diabetes have been shown to be even less physically active than their non-diabetic counterparts. Health care practitioners are looking towards alternative forms of exercise which may improve adherence rates among this population. Recently, whole body vibration (VIB) has been explored as a potential exercise mode. VIB has been suggested to improve muscle strength and metabolic rate, and some companies have even claimed it can do so in half the time compared to traditional exercise regimes. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of VIB on blood glucose levels and metabolic cost in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The intervention involved comparing 15 minutes of VIB, a 30 minutes resistance band (RB) session and a seated control condition. It was found that VIB led to a greater metabolic cost and increased energy expenditure, and both exercise modes resulted in a similar decrease in blood glucose. These results suggest VIB may be an effective strategy for type 2 diabetes, however more research is needed to verify the acute and long term effects of VIB in this population.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1269