Last update:
14-Jan-2006

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a specific exercise program on the lipid profile and fitness in healthy, early postmenopausal women (<6 years).

METHOD Ten postmenopausal women (aged 53.8±2.8 years) participated in a supervised exercise program for a period of 6 months (two sessions a week of strength training 70% of one repetition maximum, and one session a week of high impact, aerobic exercise 70-85% of HRmax), while ten other postmenopausal women (aged 51.5±5.1 years) served as a control group.

RESULTS At the end of the program, significant decrease was observed in the sum of skinfolds (-6.9%, Ρ<0.05) and the waist to hip ratio (-1.4%, Ρ<0.05) in the exercising group compared with the control group. The control group also presented a 4.07% decrease of HDL-cholesterol levels, whereas the exercising group showed a 5.3% increase (Ρ<0.05). Regarding the triglycerides a 7.2% (Ρ>0.05) decrease was detected in the exercising group and a 15.1% (Ρ>0.05) increase in the control group. Exercise time (9.3±0.6 min vs 10.6±1.2 min, Ρ<0.01) and flexibility (14.3±4.0 cm vs 17.9±3.9 cm, Ρ<0.01) were also significantly improved in the exercising group at the end of the study. Regarding muscular strength, the upper body strength increased significantly by up to 14-64% and the lower by up to 20-27% at the end of the program.

CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that a combined training program of strength and aerobic exercise of six months' duration induces positive adaptations in fitness (endurance, strength, flexibility) and HDL-cholesterol levels, which improve health of postmenopausal women.

Key words: Endurance, Exercise, Flexibility, Lipid profile, Postmenopause, Strength.