Efficacy and safety of spinning exercise in middle-aged and older adults with metabolic syndrome: randomized control trial.

Background: Few studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of spinning exercise on cardio-vascular weal.

Aim: To assess whether a 6 months spinning training, combined with proper diet, is more effective than standard training programs and diet alone in improving metabolic abnormalities in middle-aged and older adults.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation Unit of our Department.

Population: Patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III diagnostic criteria.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with diet (group A, n = 10), with diet and general gymnastics program (group B, n = 10), with diet and spinning physical training program (group C, n = 10).

Results: During the study period we observed a significant reduction in blood pressure (group C: systolic blood pressure p = 0.03; diastolic blood pressure p = 0.004 / group B: systolic blood pressure p = 0.001), in lipid profile (group B: plasma total cholesterol p = 0.001; triglycerides p = 0.001 / group C: plasma total cholesterol p = 0.04); in fasting blood glucose (group B: p = 0.01; group C: p = 0.008); in Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (group B: p = 0.01; group C: p = 0.001); in waist circumference (group C: p = 0.005; group A: p = 0.02; group B: p = 0.04). No patients reported adverse events during follow-up.

Conclusion: Our results confirm the effectiveness of spinning training combined with diet in the management of MetS.

Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: The findings provide a preliminary evidence to support that spinning training may represent a useful and safe intervention also in middle-aged and older adults geriatric with multiple CV risk factors.