The Study of the Effect of a 16-Week Program of Resistance-Aerobic Training on BDNF, Hba1c, Pain, and Michigan Neuropathy Score Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy

Abstract

Objectives: Very few data on the role of exercise training on diabetic peripheral neuropathy have been reported. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of resistance- aerobic training for 16 weeks on Brain-derived Neurotropicfactor (BDNF), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), pain, and Michigan Neuropathy score among type-2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy. Materials and methods: A total of 24 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy were randomly assigned to the control (subject:11) and the experimental group (subject:13). The subjects in the experimental group were required to follow a combined of resistance-aerobic training 3 sessions a week for 16 consecutive weeks. Blood samples were taken from all of the participants once before the start of the study, and at the end of the first, second, third, and fourth months. The pain felt by the subjects was measured with the Visual Analogue Scale concurrent with the blood sampling procedure. Findings: The results showed that resistance-aerobic training had no statistically significant effect on the BDNF, Glucose, and HbA1c indexes of the experimental group at P>0.05. However, the level of pain, lower body limb strength, and Michigan Neuropathy score of the experimental group subjects showed a meaningful improvement compared to those of the subjects in the control group. Conclusion: Although the BDNF serum level did not show any meaningful reduction after resistance-aerobic training, the pain felt, strength, and Michigan neuropathy score improved. It seems highly likely that following resistance-aerobic training can prevent the increase of glucose level in the blood and the reduction of BDNF level in the blood.