Quality of life and sleep quality are similarly improved after aquatic or dry-land aerobic training in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized clinical trial

Objectives: To compare the effects of two aerobic training models in water and on dry-land on quality of life, depressive symptoms and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Methods: Thirty-five patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to aquatic aerobic training group (n = 17) or dry-land aerobic training group (n=18). Exercise training length was of 12 weeks, performed in three weekly sessions (45 min/session), with intensity progressing from 85% to 100% of heart rate of anaerobic threshold during interventions. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks later. Results: In per protocol analysis, physical and psychological domains of quality of life improved in both groups (p < 0.05) without between-group differences. Overall quality of life and sleep quality improved in both groups (p <0.05), without between-group differences in per protocol and intention to treat analysis. No changes on depressive symptoms were observed in both groups at follow-up. Conclusions: Aerobic training in an aquatic environment provides similar effects to aerobic training in a dry-land environment on quality of life, depressive symptoms and sleep quality in patients with type 2 diabetes. (C) 2017 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.