The Effects of Axial Bone Osteogenic Loading-Type Resistance Exercise on Adults with Risk of Moderate-Metabolic Dysfunction: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of osteogenic loading (OL) on glycemic control in older adults with pre-type 2 diabetes. Research design and methods: We performed a 24-week observational trial in 21 adults (10 females and 11 males; mean age 62 (+/-11.8 SD) years) with pre-type 2 diabetes. Subjects were randomly asked by their general practitioner (GP) to participate in supervised OL therapy, which had previously been used to treat bone mass loss [1] but had been anecdotally suggested to have positive implications on patients who also had metabolic dysfunction [2]. Metabolic syndrome abnormalities, mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and mental wellbeing markers were determined before and after the intervention. Results: Twenty-four weeks of OL therapy (sessions one time per week) resulted in significantly reduced mean HbA1c levels from 6.37 (+/-1.11 SD) to 5.81 (+/-1.01 SD) (P< 0.05). No significant weight or BMI change occurred and no adverse events or complications occurred with any of the test subjects. Conclusions: OL therapy as a supplement to standard care is both feasible and effective in improving glycemic control among moderate-risk adults with poor glycemic control. Significant reductions were measured in HbA1c levels amongst group subjects by 8.8% (+/-4.1% SD) from baseline to post-test without weight or BMI change.