Effect of tele-rehabilitation on glucose control, exercise capacity, physical fitness, muscle strength and psychosocial status in patients with type 2 diabetes: A double blind randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effect of a tele-rehabilitation (TR) program on glucose control, exercise capacity, physical fitness, muscle strength and psychosocial status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Method: Fifty type 2 DM participants were enrolled in the study and divided randomly into two groups; TR (n = 25, mean age: 52.82 +/- 11.86) or control (n =25, mean age: 53.04 +/- 10.45) group. Participants in the TR group performed breathing and callisthenic exercises, three times a week, for 6 weeks, at home by internet based video conferences. Outcome measures including, HbA1c level, 6 min walk testing, physical fitness and muscle strength dynamometer measurement, Beck Depression Inventory were performed before and after the 6 weeks.

Results: HbA1c (p = 0.00), 6 min walking distance (p = 0.00), physical fitness subparameters; sit-up (p = 0.00), sit-and-reach (p = 0.04), back scratch (p = 0.00), lateral flexion right (p = 0.04), left (p = 0.00) and time up go tests (p = 0.00), muscles strength (p = 0.00); deltoideus-anterior, middle, quadriceps femoris and gluteus maximus, and depression levels (p = 0.00) changed significantly (p = 0.00) in TR groups. There were no significant improvements in control group p >0.05).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that TR interventions found to be safe and effective, and may be an alternative treatment model for type 2 DM management. In addition to these health benefits, patients and rehabilitation team may save time, labor and treatment costs by using TR. (C) 2019 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.