Effect of Electrical Muscle Stimulation and Resistance Training on the Lipid Profile in Sedentary Type-II Diabetic Individuals: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is associated with dyslipidaemia, a major contributor to cardiovascular complications. Resistance Training (RT) is known to improve lipid metabolism, but adherence can be challenging. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has emerged as a potential alternative, promoting muscle activation and metabolic improvements. Aim: To evaluate and compare the effects of EMS and RT on lipid profile parameters, including Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Liopprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High Density Liopprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) and Triglycerides (TG), in sedentary individuals with diabetes. Materials and Methods: An experimental study with a pretest/post-test design was conducted in the Department of Physiotherapy at GD Goenka University, Gurugram, Haryana, India starting from October 2023 until September 2024. A total of 66 sedentary type II diabetic subjects (both males and females) with a fasting blood glucose level between 100 mg/dL and 250 mg/dL and on oral hypoglycaemic drugs, without any major systemic or diabetic complications, were included in the study. Subjects were assigned to three groups through a convenient sampling method: EMS, RT and a control group. The EMS group, with a mean age of 53.0±3.7 years, received Russian current stimulation on three alternate days per week for 12 weeks. The RT group, with a mean age of 52.0±4.84 years, performed progressive resistance exercises on three alternate days per week for 12 weeks, while the control group, with a mean age of 49.77±6.75 years, received standard patient education on diet and physical activity. Lipid profile parameters, including TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, Very Low Density Liopprotein Cholesterol (VLDL-C), TGs and cholesterol/HDL ratio, were assessed at baseline, postintervention (12 weeks) and after a three-month follow-up. The pre-post data for intervention groups were analysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at three time points with p-value 0.05). Triglycerides decreased significantly in both intervention groups (p-value 0.05). These findings suggest that both EMS and RT effectively improve lipid profiles, with RT favouring cholesterol modulation and EMS being more effective for triglyceride reduction. Conclusion: Both EMS and RT effectively improved lipid profiles in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), with RT demonstrating superior benefits in reducing cholesterol and LDL-C, while EMS was more effective in lowering triglycerides. EMS may serve as a viable alternative for individuals with exercise limitations, offering a non pharmacological approach in managing diabetic dyslipidaemia.

Keywords

• cholesterol
• diabetes mellitus-type 2
• electric stimulation therapy
• lipid metabolism