Weight training improves diabetic nerve function

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> Weight training improves diabetic nerve function

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> Jun 07 (Reuters Health) - Resistance training improves nerve function in

> elderly diabetic patients with a common condition called peripheral

neuropathy,

> according to findings presented today at the annual meeting of the American

> Diabetes Association. It also has a favorable impact on risk factors for heart

> disease.

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> Peripheral neuropathy typically affects the feet and hands and can cause a

> variety of problems including numbness, tingling sensations, pain, and

> weakness.

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> " We noticed that many of our elderly diabetic patients were not tolerating

> traditional medicines used for neuropathy pain or they just weren't working, "

> lead researcher Dr. Regina T. Kurian, from the University of Louisville in

> Kentucky, told Reuters Health.

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> " Our results show that resistance training is safe for elderly patients with

> neuropathy and it can improve their symptoms and increase muscle strength

> and maybe help prevent some falls, " she said.

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> In the study, 11 elderly diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy

> engaged in roughly 30 minutes of supervised resistance training of the lower

> extremities three times per week for 12 weeks. " This was a pilot study to see

if

> this was doable and to see if we could get some good data -- and we did, "

> Kurian said.

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> Resistance training was associated with improved muscle strength in the calf

> and hamstring, a reduction in waist circumference, a drop in blood pressure,

> and an increase in " good " HDL cholesterol.

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> Resistance training also led to improvements in scores on two standard

> neuropathy tests.

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> Based on these results, the investigators suggest considering resistance

> training in the management of diabetics with peripheral neuropathy.

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> Publish Date: June 07, 2004

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