Impact of resistance training on muscle fatigue in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients during dynamic fatigue protocol.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is often accompanied with several neuromuscular complications of which muscle fatigue is one of the scantily studied and less-explored complication of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on muscle fatigue markers from electromyography (EMG) and capillary blood in T2DM patients. METHODS: Forty T2DM patients were randomized to either RT (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). They were assessed for EMG indices of muscle fatigue along with blood lactate (at three time points Lactatepre, Lactatepeak, Lactatepost) during a dynamic fatigue protocol. Dynamic fatigue protocol consisted of 5 sets of leg press exercise at 10 repetition maximum intensity. RT group performed moderate intensity (65%-75% 1 repetition maximum) RT 3 times/week for 12 weeks. Control group followed usual routine. RESULTS: Findings revealed that EMG amplitude (root mean square) and Dimitrov's muscle fatigue index (FInsmk) decreased significantly while median frequency (MF) increased significantly during the dynamic fatigue protocol for both vastus medialis (Root mean square, p = .02; FInsmk, p = .001; MF, p < .001) and vastus lateralis muscle (Root mean square, p= .04,FInsmk,p = .01; MF, p < .001) post-RT. Blood lactate responses did not change after RT (Lactatepre, p = .55; Lactatepeak, p = .91; Lactatepost, p = .33). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study illustrated that moderate intensity RT led to a significant reduction muscle fatigue in knee extensor muscles of T2DM patients. These results reinforce the utilization of RT in patients with T2DM.