Effect of aquatic exercise on mental health, functional autonomy, and oxidative damages in diabetes elderly individuals

• Published in: International journal of environmental health research 2022-09, Vol.32 (9), p.2098-2111
• Main Authors: Silva, Luciano Acordi da, Menguer, Lorhan da Silva, Doyenart, Ramiro, Boeira, Daniel, Milhomens, Yuri Pinheiro, Dieke, Beatriz, Volpato, Ana Maria, Thirupathi, Anand, Silveira, Paulo Cesar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Autonomy; Carbonyl compounds; Carbonyl groups; Carbonyls; depression; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; exercise aquatic; functional mobility; Mental health; Older people; Proteins
• ISSN: 0960-3123; 1369-1619
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.1943324

This study investigated the effect of aquatic exercise on mental health, functional autonomy, and oxidative dysfunction in elderly with DM2. A total of 104 elderly were included in the longitudinal clinical study and were attributed to the diabetes group (n = 30) and the non-diabetic group (n = 29). Both groups were involved in the aquatic exercise (nine exercises; 3 sets x 1-minute duration each; linear intensity and frequency measured twice a week) for 12 weeks. The assessments of mental health, functional autonomy, and oxidative dysfunction were done. All results were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks later. The values of the following variable scores decreased in the DM2 group after participation in the aquatic exercise: depression (−56 ± 2 scores; 57%), anxiety (−8.2 ± 2 scores; 41%), stress (−3.1 ± 0.3 scores; 32%), and sleep (−3. 7 ± 1.3 points; 51%); an improvement in Berg scores was observed (+53.1 ± 2 points; 8%), Tug tests (−6.1 ± 0.7 points; 25%), carbonyl groups (−0.048 ± 0.01 nnmol/mg/protein; 49%), and total thiol (+0.33 ± 0.08 nnmol/mg/protein; 83%). We have concluded that a linear intensity aquatic exercise program improves mental health, functional autonomy, and oxidative dysfunction in elderly with DM2.