OBJECTIVES: We applied a 10-week active stretching program among patients with type II diabetes mellitus, which was composed according to Hungarian and International protocols. Our aim was to measure the efficacy of active stretching program on the change of muscle flexibility, body composition, concentration of glucose in blood and blood pressure.

METHODS: RESULTS: The program consisted of 30 occasions, we compared the first and the last occasions’ measurements. Significant changes (p<0.001) occured in the right (-1.7 cm; 2.3 cm), left (-3 cm; 0.5 cm) lower limb, in the right (-6.6 cm; -2.8 cm), left (-11.7 cm; -7.4 cm) upper limb, in the concentration of glucose in blood [(p=0.002); 11.4, 7.93 mmol/L], in systolic [(p=0.027); 135.3, 126.8 mmHg] and diastolic [(p=0,32); 79.5, 72.9 mmHg] blood pressure. Parameters of the body composition also improved significantly: body weight ([p=0.002); 81.57, 80.12 kg], body mass index [(p=0,001); 30,1, 29,5 kg/m], body fat [(p=0,029); 37,2, 36,4 %] and skeletal muscle [(p=0.001); 26.9, 27.2 %]. Visceral fat decreased, but not significantly [(p=0.337); 12.8, 12.7 %].

CONCLUSIONS: Active stretching therapy has a positive impact on parameters affected in type II diabetes mellitus.