Summary:
In individuals with type 2 diabetes, a structured five-week aquatic exercise program significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and improved respiratory function and functional capacity over time compared to a control group that received only an educational lecture, though it was associated with no reported side effects.
| PICO | Description |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), randomized into intervention (n = 27) and control groups (n = 25). |
| Intervention | Structured aquatic conditioning program conducted three times per week for five weeks (totaling 15 sessions). |
| Comparison | Control group received no physical training but attended the same educational lecture at the end of the study period. |
| Outcome | Within the intervention group, significant reductions in systolic (p = 0.019) and diastolic (p = 0.011) blood pressure, and improvements in maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP, p = 0.015), peak expiratory flow (PEF, p = 0.01), and 6-minute walk test distance (6MWT, p = 0.001) over time. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups across all measured outcomes. |
Source: Ruanito Calixto Júnior, et al. “Effects of an Aquatic Exercise Protocol on Blood Pressure, Respiratory Function, and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Read article here.
