Résumé
The higher average age of employees by the advancement of compulsory retirement age, and their sedentary life style in automated environments, has become an important issue in enterprise, because of the increase of adult disease and decreased physical fitness level.<BR>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a ten-year corporate health and fitness program to design for the purpose of assisting employees to stay well, through the results of health care examinations. The health and fitness program consist of health care examinations (medical checkup, physical fitness test and seminar for health promotion) and going through a physical training program on an individual basis.<BR>With the increase of their average age, body weight and skin folds increased, but the prevalence of obesity (skin folds ; triceps+subscapula≥35 mm) showed no significant change. However, their blood pressure increased. In blood test, fasting plasma glucose and HDL-cholesterol levels were elevated significantly, but total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed significantly decrease through this period. Physical fitness evaluation was markedly improved. Furthermore, the absence rate due to sickness was low for this period despite the increase of their average age.<BR>The results suggest that long-term corporate health and fitness program is effective to improve employees' physical fitness level and possibly to prevent the progression of adult disease.
Résumé
Exercise therapy as well as diet therapy, is fundamental in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, however, its methods and effects of long term physical exercise therapy has not yet been clarified.<BR>The present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise therapy in diabetic patients with fasting hyperglycemia. Ten non-insulin dependent diabetic patients participated in a 6-month physical exercise program consisting of 30 min, of jogging performed 3 times per week (Exercise group) . The exercise intensity represented 40% of estimated Vo<SUB>2</SUB>max.<BR>The following results were obtained:<BR>1. More significant improvement of glucose tolerance and plasma insulin response to glucose load was observed in exercise group as compared with the patients treated with mild caloric restriction alone (Diet group, N=15) .<BR>2. The significant increase in plasma HDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was observed only in exercise group.<BR>3. The reduction of body weight in exercise group was significantly greater than that in diet group.<BR>4. The physical exercise also resulted in an improvement of cardiovascular adaptaion to exercise.<BR>5. Improvement of symptoms in daily life activity was also found after physical exercise therapy. However, some medical troubles such as hypoglycemia, muscle pain and arthralgia were found during observation period.<BR>In conclusion, physical exercise therapy is useful as an adjunct to diet to improve metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. And for effective exercise therapy, exercise program must be individualized, and motivation is stimulated by team including physician, trainer, nurse and dietitian.
Résumé
Exercise has been well known to a fundamental treatment of diabetes mellitus, as well as diet therapy. Nevertheless, its therapeutic use and clinical effects are still unknown in details. The aim of this study is the establishment of practical exercise therapy for the patients with diabetes mellitus. The present study shows the acute exercise effects on blood metabolites and the effects of long term physical training in diabetics.<BR>The following results were obtained.<BR>1) Although no significant change of blood glucose level was observed in normals, the decrease of blood glucose and triglyceride levels were observed in diabetics in acute exercise. Moreover marked elevation of FFA level was also observed after acute exercise in diabetics.<BR>2) Significant decrease of blood glucose and increase of HDL-cholesterol levels were found in diabetics by long term regular physical training.<BR>3) Body weight reduction without loss of lean body mass and the improvement of physiological response to exercise test were achieved after long term physical training.<BR>These results suggest that the regular physical training leads to the better control of diabetes mellitus and keeps good condition in patients with diabetes mellitus, and that it may have a important role of the prevention for the diabetic vascular complication.