Exercise training is associated with reduced pains from the musculoskeletal system in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims: To investigate the effect of exercise training on musculoskeletal pain in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: The intervention was exercise twice weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was musculoskeletal pain assessed using a 0–10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) in 11 body sites. Secondary outcomes were use of analgesics, glycaemic control and body weight. Results: The participants (n = 69) were 66 ± 10 years old, 38 were men and 50 completed the intervention. Pain in the limbs was more frequently reported by the participants compared to a matched general population (80.9% vs 65.3%, p = 0.007). The participants who had any pain at baseline (NRS > 0) and severe pain (NRS > 3) reported significantly decreased pain in the feet, calf muscles, knees, thighs, hips, lower back and arms after the training period. Use of analgesics was unchanged, HbA1c (mmol/mol) decreased from 60 ± 15 to 54 ± 11, p < 0.001 and body weight (kg) decreased from 100.5 ± 19.1 to 98.6 ± 17.7, p = 0.005. Conclusions: The participants with type 2 diabetes reported more frequent pain than a matched general population. The training intervention was associated with reduced musculoskeletal pain. Reduced pain may together with a positive impact on glycaemic control be an important motivational factor in patients with type 2 diabetes to perform exercise training.