Effects of short-term bed rest on skeletal muscle function in patients with diabetes mellitus

Maintaining physical activity is crucial for patients with diabetes mellitus. However, hospitalization or other events that limit physical activity can lead to physical deconditioning. This study aimed to investigate changes in skeletal muscle function caused by short-term bed rest in patients with diabetes.

Fifty patients aged ≥ 65 years who were hospitalized due to vertebral compression fractures and required bed rest were enrolled and categorized into diabetes and non-diabetes groups. During the 10-day bed rest period, all patients underwent bed-based stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and resistance training. The resistance training consisted of eight types of muscle-strengthening exercises, individually adjusted with manual resistance, performed for 20 min per session, six times per week. Muscle function, including skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index (SMI), muscle quality, and muscle strength, was evaluated at baseline and after 10 days using the InBody S10 and µTas F-1 devices. Statistical analyses included paired and unpaired t-tests or their non-parametric equivalents based on data distribution.

The diabetes and non-diabetes groups comprised 35 and 15 patients, respectively. In the overall cohort, skeletal muscle mass, SMI, and muscle quality significantly declined after 10 days, whereas muscle strength was preserved. No significant differences in muscle function were observed between the diabetes and non-diabetes groups at baseline or follow-up.

The presence of diabetes did not exacerbate the decline in muscle mass or quality during short-term bed rest. Although the disuse of anti-gravity muscles typically leads to reductions in muscle mass and quality, appropriate physiotherapy interventions during bed rest may help maintain muscle strength.