Examination of the effectiveness of 12-week Nordic Walking exercise in prediabetic individuals

Abstract

Purpose: Nordic walking (NW) exercise is a type of exercise performed with batons, thus enabling the upper extremity to participate in the movement, reducing the load on the lower extremity and resulting in the involvement of large muscle groups. Exercise is recommended to prevent the development of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NW exercise on insulin resistance, erythrocyte deformability, adipokine levels, oxidative stress in prediabetic women aged 40-65 years.Materials and methods: Prediabetic individuals underwent progressive NW exercise at 65% of maximal heart rate for 3 days/week/12 weeks. Erythrocyte deformability was measured with an ektacytometer. Oxidative stress, serum adipokines were determined by commercial kits.Results: NW exercise induced weight loss and decrement in body fat percentage (p<0.05). Waist, hips, thighs, chest circumferences were also reduced in response to exercise (p<0.05). NW exercise returned fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c levels of prediabetic individuals to control levels (p=0.001, p=0.013 and p=0.021, respectively). Exercise yielded acute and prolonged increases in erythrocyte deformability of prediabetic individuals (p<0.05). The first exercise session caused decrement of total oxidant status and oxidative stress (p=0.015 and p=0.013, respectively). No alteration in serum adipokines was detected.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that NW exercise may contribute to the prevention of diabetes development in prediabetic individuals. It may also be beneficial in preventing the development of possible complications by regulating perfussion and acutely reducing oxidative stress.