Relationship between Habitual Physical Activity and Variability of Cardiac Frequency in Women with Type 2 Diabetes

The objective of the study was to analyze the relationship between the habitual physical activity pattern and the autonomic heart rate modulation in postmenopausal women with Type 2 Diabetes. The sample of 44 postmenopausal women aged 51 to 82 years, diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and sedentary. The usual physical activity (AFH) was estimated by the Baecke questionnaire, which evaluates occupational physical activities (AFO), physical exercise and laser (EFL), physical activity of leisure and locomotion (ALL) and local physical activity (AFT) ). Autonomic modulation was assessed by frequency variability analysis (HRV) at 20 minutes rest in the supine position.The AFO score showed a positive and significant correlation with MeanRR (ms), RMSSD (ms), HF (ms2) and SD1 (ms) values, indicating that the increase in occupational physical activity correlates with increased vagal and Reduction in resting heart rate. The AFL score showed a positive correlation with the values of HF (nu) and negative with values of LF (nu), showing that an increase in AFL correlates with reduction of modulation The AFT score had a positive correlation with the HF (nu) value and negatively with the LF/ HF value, indicating that an increase in the standard of total habitual physical activity contributes to a Increased parasympathetic modulation and an improvement in the sympatho-vagal ratio.Although the results do not present direct correlation with the score that represents the practice of Physical Exercise systematizes with improvements of the autonomic modulation, the physical exercise contributes to a higher AFT score, and in this way may be related to the increase of the parasympathetic activity, reduction of the Sympathetic activity and improvement of the sympatho-vagal balance.