Effect of strength exercise with elastic bands and aerobic exercise in the treatment of frailty of the elderly patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIM: To evaluate in the elderly diabetic patient the probability of improving the frailty after performing strength exercises with an elastic band and aerobic exercise.

METHODS

Prospective study of diabetic patients older than 70 years, with Barthel >80 points and Global Deterioration Scale -Functional Assessment Staging <3 points. Strength exercises with an elastic band 3 days a week and walk 30min a day 5 days a week were recommended. Adherence to the exercises was assessed using the Haynes-Sacket test. Frailty was assessed by the Fried criteria and functional capacity by the Short Physical Performance Battery at baseline and at 6 months.

RESULTS

44 patients completed 6 months of follow-up. There was non-adherence to aerobic exercises in 38.6% of cases and to exercises with elastic bands in 47.7%. The prevalence of frailty decreased from an initial 34.1% to 25% at 6 months (p=0.043) and the percentage of patients with a moderate-severe functional limitation was reduced from 26.2% to 21.4% (p=0.007). Adherence to aerobic exercises (p=0.034) and absence of coronary ischemic heart disease (p=0.043) predisposed to improve frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

Performing 6-month strength exercises with an elastic band and aerobic exercise reduces the prevalence of frailty in elderly diabetic patients. The probability of improving frailty decreases in case of coronary ischemic heart disease and increases with adherence to aerobic exercises.