Acute Effect of Tai Chi Versus Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise on Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Cardiac Autonomic Control Parameters in Older Men and Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes

Treatments: Other: Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise (MICE); Other: Tai Chi; Other: Control ( No Exercise )

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07113444

CAAE: 88582225.1.0000.5398

Details and patient eligibility

About

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the elderly population is associated with compromised cardiovascular and metabolic functions, thereby necessitating the implementation of safe exercise interventions. This study employs a randomized, single-blind, crossover design will be conducted in Brazil to examine whether Tai Chi, a low-impact mind-body exercise, offers acute benefits comparable to those of moderate-intensity combined exercise (MICE) in 24 older adults (≥65 years) diagnosed with T2DM, consisting of 12 men and 12 women. Participants recruited through community advertisements and screened to ensure inactivity, stable medication usage, and the absence of significant comorbidities will undergo randomized sessions of Tai Chi, MICE, and a control (CON) intervention. Evaluations will include capillary blood glucose (the primary outcome), blood pressure, heart rate variability, arterial stiffness (PWVcf), and endothelial function (FMD) measured before, immediately after, and 45minute post-intervention, along with 24-hour ambulatory monitoring. Standardized protocols will be employed to regulate physical activity. By juxtaposing these interventions, the study seeks to ascertain if Tai Chi could serve as a feasible alternative for enhancing acute metabolic and cardiovascular responses in older diabetic adults, thus providing practical insights for clinical and lifestyle management.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

only with type 2 diabetes

Exclusion criteria

• if not able to perform physical exercise (Extreme neuropathy, wounds in the feet, and amputation risk.)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

24 participants in 3 patient groups

Tai Chi

Experimental group

Description:

40-60 minute supervised Yang-style Tai Chi lesson (24-form simplified pattern). Focus on calm, controlled movements and breathing coordination.

Treatment:

Other: Tai Chi

Moderate-Intensity Exercise (MICE)

Experimental group

Description:

The MICE session will consist of five minutes of warm-up (joint mobility and stretching exercises between PSE levels 9 and 11, 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill between PSE levels 12 and 13, 20 minutes of muscle strengthening exercises between levels 12 and 14 of PSE (two sets of 15 to 20 repetitions in circuit in the exercises bent row with elastic band, bodyweight squats, adapted push-ups (on the wall or on the counter), deadlifts with an elastic band, presses with an elastic band and an abdominal band on the floor or adapted on the chair) and five minutes of back to calm (light stretching and breathing exercises at PSE level 9).

Treatment:

Other: Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise (MICE)

Control (No Exercise)

Sham Comparator group

Description:

The CON session will consist of 60 minutes of rest in the sitting position. Participants will be told not to sleep and will not have access to reading or electronic devices during the CON session.

Treatment:

Other: Control ( No Exercise )