Non-locomotive physical activity intervention using a tri-axial accelerometer reduces sedentary time in type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine whether the use of a tri-axial accelerometer can reduce sedentary time and increase non-locomotive physical activity (N-LPA), and to investigate the effect of this intervention on parameters of glucose and fat metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes (Age: 61.8 ± 1.4 years, BMI: 24.8 ± 0.6, HbA_1c: 6.6 ± 0.1 %) participated in this 12-week randomized controlled study, and 31 patients were included in the final analyses. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, N-LPA or locomotive physical activity (LPA). Patients in the N-LPA and LPA groups were asked to increase their N-LPA and LPA, respectively, using tri-axial accelerometer feedback. Glucose and fat metabolic parameters were evaluated before and after 12-week intervention.

Results: Only the N-LPA intervention significantly reduced sedentary time (p < 0.05) and increased N-LPA (p < 0.05). However, these changes were insufficient to improve parameters associated with glucose and fat metabolism (p > 0.05), despite a significant positive correlation between the change in sedentary time and HbA_1c levels (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results showed that the N-LPA intervention using a tri-axial accelerometer successfully reduced sedentary time in patients with type 2 diabetes, however that induced no significant improvement of glucose and fat metabolism. Further research is required to determine the degree of reduction in sedentary time and increase in N-LPA needed to improve glucose and fat metabolism.

KEYWORDS:

• Non-exercise activity thermogenesis
• sedentary behavior
• physical activity
• type 2 diabetes
• health promotion

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from Osaka Gas Group Welfare Foundation and Japanese Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP Project ID 14533567).