Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between physical activity, measured by pedometric measurement and oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics, and exercise endurance of DM patients. Subjects were 10 DM patients (7 male and 3 female: 65 ± 7 years old) with no complications, living at home. The physical activity was assessed by measuring the daily gait steps using a pedometric caloriecounter (CAL-D; Suzuken, Ltd, Japan) for 18 ± 7 days. To evaluate the physical fitness by exercise capacity, a graded cycling exercise test was performed, and gas exchange, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max, in ml/min) and maximal work rate (maxWR, in watts) were monitored. The following results were obtained. (1) The average of walking steps, exercise energy expenditure and total energy expenditure were 8202 ± 1966 steps/day, 231 ± 70 kcal/day and 1789 ± 191 kcal/day, respectivery. (2) VO2max and maxWR were 1282 ± 222 ml/min and 118 ± 25 watts, respectively. (3) There was a positive correlation between the walking steps and VO2max (r=0.44, p<0.05). These results suggest that pedometric physical activity is related with exercise endurance in DM patients. Therefore it is expected that the measurement of exercise therapy by caloriecounter in DM patients would be effective.
