Effects of traditional and modified arm swing exercise on abdominal obesity, hemodynamics and quality of life in patients with metabolic syndrome

Arm swing exercise (ASE) is an interesting exercise modality because it is feasible for most individuals under the home-based exercise condition. It may improve abdominal obesity, hemodynamics, and quality of life (QOL). Therefore, we determined and compared the training effects of ASE pattern on waist circumference, hemodynamics, and QOL in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). In a randomized control trial with single-blinded design, 63 women with MetS performed traditional ASE (TASE) (n=32) and modified ASE (MASE) (n=31) 30 min·d^-1, 6 d·wk^-1 for 12 wks. Anthropometry, resting heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) along with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) for assessing data on waist circumference, hemodynamics, and QOL were collected before and after exercise interventions. Comparing with before training, both groups had lowered waist circumference (P < 0.05). The TASE group also had higher physical role and general health (P < 0.01), and social functioning and emotional role scores than before training (P < 0.05). Moreover, the TASE group had a greater increase in social functioning than the MASE group (P < 0.05). In addition, The TASE group had lowered HR and SBP as a result of training. There were no significant differences between the groups in waist circumference and hemodynamics. These results indicate that both patterns of ASE training reduced waist circumference. The TASE group had more improvement in social functioning than the MASE group. However, the mode of ASE training did not influence the subjects' waist circumference and hemodynamics.