Effects of Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise with Slow Movement and Tonic Force Generation on Short-Term Glycemic Variability in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Study

Resistance exercise improves daily glycemic control. Low-intensity resistance exercise with slow movements and tonic force generation (LST) is a resistance exercise protocol that can increase skeletal muscle mass and strength without considerable physical burden; however, its effect on glycemic variability is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LST on short-term glycemic variability, expressed as the M-value, in healthy individuals. We recruited 20 healthy subjects (mean age: 27.9 +/- 3.9 years) with normal glucose tolerance, and subjects were randomly assigned to the control (n = 10) or LST (n = 10) groups. Subjects in the LST group performed the resistance exercise with 40-50% of the one-repetition maximum for 40 min. All subjects wore a subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring system and a triaxial accelerometer, and their daily glycemic variability and physical activity were measured. One hour after the intervention, in the LST group, the variability of blood glucose levels was significantly decreased compared to the control group (M-values in the LST group: pre 3.5 +/- 6.2, post 2.7 +/- 2.7, p = 0.575; M-values in the control group: pre 0.4 +/- 0.7, post 2.7 +/- 2.0, p = 0.017). However, there were no differences in total physical activity and daily glycemic control between groups. The findings of this study suggest that LST improves short-term glycemic variability in healthy subjects.

Automated summary

The study found that low-intensity resistance exercise can improve short-term glycemic variability in healthy individuals, but has no significant impact on total physical activity and daily glycemic control.