IMPACT OF A COMBINED PROTOCOL OF AEROBIC AND RESISTANCE EXERCISES ON THE METABOLIC AND MOTOR PROFILE IN A PRE-DIABETIC CHILD: A CASE STUDY.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0159672604069

• Palavras-chave: Diabetes Mellitus, Physical Therapy, Physical Activity

• Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Physical Therapy, Physical Activity

• Abstract:

  Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by the body’s difficulty in producing or properly utilizing insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose levels. When this mechanism is disrupted, blood glucose levels rise, which can cause damage to organs and systems such as the heart, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and eyes. Prediabetes is a condition preceding type 2 diabetes mellitus, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, though not yet sufficient for a definitive diagnosis of the disease. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cases of diabetes and prediabetes among children and adolescents, primarily due to childhood obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor dietary habits.Regular physical exercise plays an important role in the prevention and management of diabetes, promoting improved insulin sensitivity, reduced body mass index, and glycemic control. Aerobic exercises use glucose and body fat as energy sources, while resistance exercises contribute to muscle strengthening and increased expression of the GLUT4 glucose transporter. In children with type 1 diabetes, adequate monitoring is necessary during physical activities due to the risk of hypoglycemia, prioritizing low- to moderate-intensity exercises. Thus, a physical therapy protocol consisting of aerobic and resistance exercises was developed to assess the metabolic and motor function of a 7-year-old pre-diabetic patient. The treatment was conducted at the Physical Therapy Teaching Clinic of Unig Campus V, in Itaperuna, over a four-month period, using resources such as Therabands, balls, sticks, treadmills, cones, and hoops, through circuit training, walking, and therapeutic running.It is concluded that the physical therapy intervention based on aerobic and resistance exercises is highly relevant for the prevention and management of childhood prediabetes, contributing to improvements in metabolic profile, physical fitness, and motor function. Furthermore, regular physical exercise helps reduce risk factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes, promoting better quality of life and health for children and adolescents.