Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chulalongkorn University, 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of water-based exercise training on physiological adaptations and cutaneous microvascular reactivity and to compare with land-based exercise training in type 2 diabetic patients. Fifty-three elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly allocated to the one of four intervention groups: the water-based exercise (n=13) group received aqua-aerobic exercise; the water-based control (n=15) group received only water immersion; the land-based exercise (n=10) group received general aerobic exercise; and the land-based control (n=15) group received behavior change advice. Both training groups performed aerobic exercise protocol which consisted of 70% of maximum heart rate, 30 minutes/day, and 3 days/wk for 12 weeks. Physical fitness, biochemical variables and cutaneous microvascular reactivity were measured at baseline and week 12. Body weight, resting heart rate, systolic blood pressure were significantly decreased (all P