Effects of Arm-cranking Training with Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Vessel Function.

This study aimed to determine whether arm-cranking training with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) results in a greater improvement in vessel function than performing the same exercise without EMS. First, nine healthy young men performed two 20-min arm-cranking trials at 50% V˙O2max with and without EMS applied to the lower limbs. The flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the right brachial artery was measured using a high-resolution ultrasound device. Both FMD and normalized FMD were increased significantly after the arm-cranking with EMS trial, and significant differences were observed between the two trials. Second, 16 healthy adult men were randomly assigned to either the arm-cranking exercise training (A) group or arm-cranking training with EMS (A+EMS) group. The subjects were engaged in 20 min of arm-cranking at 50% V˙O2max twice a week for 8 weeks with/without EMS applied to the lower limbs. The FMD increased significantly after A+EMS training session and the FMD in A+EMS group was significantly higher than that in the A group. These results indicate that acute/chronic endurance arm-cranking with EMS applied to the lower limbs improves the brachial artery endothelial function more markedly than the same exercise without EMS.

Moderate-intensity Arm-cranking Exercise may not Improve Arterial Function in Healthy Adult Men.

Endurance exercises, such as cycling or running, are useful for improving arterial function. However, people suffering from partial paralysis or arthritis are unable to perform these kinds of lower-limb exercises. In the present study, we explored the acute effect of upper-arm exercise on arterial stiffness in healthy men. Fourteen healthy adult men performed two experimental trials. The order of experiments was randomized between a 30-min arm-cranking exercise at 50% V̇O2max (A-trial) and a 30-min leg-cycling exercise at 50% V̇O2max (C-trial). The brachial to ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), brachial systolic/diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were obtained with subjects in the supine position. The baseline hemodynamic values were not markedly different between the two trials. Compared with the baseline value, the baPWV was significantly reduced at 30 and 60 min after the C-trial. In the A-trial, however, there were no significant changes in the baPWV throughout the trial. These results indicate that acute 50% V̇O2max arm-cranking exercise induced relatively little change in the baPWV, which was the opposite of the finding observed with leg-cycling exercise. Therefore, in order to improve arterial function via aerobic upper-arm exercises, the exercise mode/intensity or other approaches should be considered.

Acute effect of fast walking on postprandial blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: Several guidelines have recently recommended exercise for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, determining the optimum exercise conditions, e.g., the intensity, amount, frequency, and type of exercise, is difficult, particularly by patients themselves. We have investigated the acute effect of fast walking on postprandial blood glucose levels among patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Fourteen patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at least 1 year previously were eligible for inclusion in this study during educational hospitalization. Three walking programs, natural walking (walking at a natural speed), 10 % fast walking, and 20 % fast walking, were performed 1 h after lunch in a randomized sequence with a washout period of 1 day. Walking time was 30 min in all the programs. Primary outcome was determined by self-monitoring of blood glucose. Blood glucose levels were measured before walking, after walking for 15 min, and at the end of walking. Heart rate and systolic and diastolic pressure were also measured for safety reasons. RESULTS: All the participants completed the study with no adverse effects. Compared with natural walking, fast walking markedly improved postprandial glucose excursion in an intensity-dependent manner without any adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Fast walking acutely reduced postprandial blood glucose levels among patients with type 2 diabetes. Our method has major implications for the practice of diabetes education in clinical rehabilitation.