Neuromuscular electrical stimulation exercise: a potential alternative to conventional exercise in the management of type 2 diabetes

Aims: Exercise is fundamental in the prevention and treatmentof type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, many individualsface barriers to exercise. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES) is an alternative to conventional exercise that mayprove beneficial in the treatment of T2D. The aim of thisstudy was to investigate the effects of an 8-week NMESexercise programme in a T2D population.Methods: A repeated measures one-group cohort interventionstudy was conducted. Thirteen T2D participants (age 52.06.9years, height 1.790.06 m, weight 104.511.9 kg, BMI 32.84.3kg/m2) underwent an 8-week NMES intervention. Venousblood markers, body composition, blood pressure, quadricepsstrength and predicted maximal oxygen consumption wereassessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention.Results: Significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose,percentage body fat and peak isometric quadriceps torquewere noted following the intervention (p<0.05).Conclusions: The principal findings of this study were thatNMES can improve body composition, muscle strength andglycaemic control in T2D participants. NMES may thereforeprovide an alternative to those individuals with T2D whohave barriers to exercise participation. Further randomisedcontrolled trials with larger participant numbers are requiredto investigate this further.