BACKGROUND: Assistive transportation devices are becoming popular. The effect of these devices, such as motorized scooters, on health is unclear. PURPOSE: We examined glucose control in healthy adults before and after riding a motorized scooter for one week. METHODS: In this three-week study, participants (n= 8; age: 22.5±3.8 y (mean±SD); BMI: 26.9±9.9 kg/m²) performed their normal physical activity for week one (Run-in), were instructed to use a motorized scooter to commute instead of walking during week two (Scooter), and returned to normal physical activity during week three (Recovery). A continuous glucose monitoring sensor was placed on each participant at the beginning of the Run-in to measure glucose throughout the three-weeks. Daily glucose readings were analyzed using R software. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed at the end of each week to examine 120-minute blood glucose values and blood glucose Area Under Curve (AUC). Data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with Tukey multiple comparison test. RESULTS: Mean and median 24hr glucose levels significantly increased from the Run-in week to the Scooter week (mean: Run-in=92.9 mg/dL, Scooter=98.4 mg/dL, Recovery=100 mg/dL; median: Run-in=90.0 mg/dL, Scooter=95.5 mg/dL, Recovery=95.6 mg/dL). Standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions were similar between the three weeks. There were no differences in 120-minute blood glucose values or AUC between the three weeks. CONCLUSION: Mean and median 24-hour glucose levels increased during the Scooter week. Increased 24-hour mean glucose readings were not recovered to initial run-in levels following a week of return to normal activity. Riding an assistive transportation device for one week did not have an effect on glucose variability. Postprandial blood glucose values were not impacted by scooter use.
Author(s): *Rachael A. Binion, *Yi Liu, Sydney Ayton, Ashley Betz, Marissa Scerbo, Rebecca Skujins, Jackson P. Yeager, Kevin D. Ballard, FACSM, Eric Slattery, Kyle L. Timmerman, FACSM, Paul T. Reidy
Advisor(s): Paul Reidy, Kinesiology, Kyle Timmerman, Kinesiology, Kevin Ballard, Kinesiology
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