Acute Effect of Tai Chi Versus Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise on Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Cardiac Autonomic Control Parameters in Older Men and Women With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

NCT ID: NCT07113444

Last Updated: 2025-08-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 24 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-08-20
• Study Completion Date: 2025-11-20

Brief Summary

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the elderly population is associated with compromised cardiovascular and metabolic functions, thereby necessitating the implementation of safe exercise interventions. This study employs a randomized, single-blind, crossover design will be conducted in Brazil to examine whether Tai Chi, a low-impact mind-body exercise, offers acute benefits comparable to those of moderate-intensity combined exercise (MICE) in 24 older adults (≥65 years) diagnosed with T2DM, consisting of 12 men and 12 women. Participants recruited through community advertisements and screened to ensure inactivity, stable medication usage, and the absence of significant comorbidities will undergo randomized sessions of Tai Chi, MICE, and a control (CON) intervention. Evaluations will include capillary blood glucose (the primary outcome), blood pressure, heart rate variability, arterial stiffness (PWVcf), and endothelial function (FMD) measured before, immediately after, and 45minute post-intervention, along with 24-hour ambulatory monitoring. Standardized protocols will be employed to regulate physical activity. By juxtaposing these interventions, the study seeks to ascertain if Tai Chi could serve as a feasible alternative for enhancing acute metabolic and cardiovascular responses in older diabetic adults, thus providing practical insights for clinical and lifestyle management.

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Tai Chi

40-60 minute supervised Yang-style Tai Chi lesson (24-form simplified pattern). Focus on calm, controlled movements and breathing coordination.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Tai Chi

Intervention Type: OTHER

Yang style of Tai Chi (24 form)

Moderate-Intensity Exercise (MICE)

The MICE session will consist of five minutes of warm-up (joint mobility and stretching exercises between PSE levels 9 and 11, 30 minutes of walking on the treadmill between PSE levels 12 and 13, 20 minutes of muscle strengthening exercises between levels 12 and 14 of PSE (two sets of 15 to 20 repetitions in circuit in the exercises bent row with elastic band, bodyweight squats, adapted push-ups (on the wall or on the counter), deadlifts with an elastic band, presses with an elastic band and an abdominal band on the floor or adapted on the chair) and five minutes of back to calm (light stretching and breathing exercises at PSE level 9).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise (MICE)

Intervention Type: OTHER

start from warm up (5 minute )repetitions in circuit in the exercises bent row with elastic band, bodyweight squats, adapted push-ups (on the wall or on the counter), deadlifts with an elastic band, presses with an elastic band and an abdominal band on the floor or adapted on the chair and cool down in the end

Control (No Exercise)

The CON session will consist of 60 minutes of rest in the sitting position. Participants will be told not to sleep and will not have access to reading or electronic devices during the CON session.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Control ( No Exercise )

Intervention Type: OTHER

The CON session will last 60 minutes and will be conducted only sitting. Participants will be told not to sleep and will not be allowed to use reading materials or any electrical gadgets during the CON session.

Interventions

Tai Chi

Yang style of Tai Chi (24 form)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Moderate-Intensity Combined Exercise (MICE)

start from warm up (5 minute )repetitions in circuit in the exercises bent row with elastic band, bodyweight squats, adapted push-ups (on the wall or on the counter), deadlifts with an elastic band, presses with an elastic band and an abdominal band on the floor or adapted on the chair and cool down in the end

Intervention Type: OTHER

Control ( No Exercise )

The CON session will last 60 minutes and will be conducted only sitting. Participants will be told not to sleep and will not be allowed to use reading materials or any electrical gadgets during the CON session.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Tai ji; Tai Chi Chuan

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

only with type 2 diabetes

Exclusion Criteria

• if not able to perform physical exercise (Extreme neuropathy, wounds in the feet, and amputation risk.)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac

Full Professor of Department of Physical Education

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Central Contacts

Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac, PhD

Role: CONTACT

emmanuel.ciolac@unesp.br

+551431039623

Junaid Riaz, Master

Role: CONTACT

junaid.riaz@unesp.br

+5514991297853

Other Identifiers

CAAE: 88582225.1.0000.5398

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id