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Exercise modality and physical fitness in perimenopausal women

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Abstract

The effect of exercise modalities on determinants of sarcopenia, specifically, lean tissue mass, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), muscle quality (MQ), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) over 12 weeks were studied in 42 (45–55 years, 60 days of amenorrhea, with ≤1 h/week physical activity) perimenopausal females. Subjects were assigned to strength training (super-slow, 20 s tension, STss = 7; hypertrophy, 2–4 s tension, STht = 8), endurance training (intermittent, ≥48 h rest, ETi = 7; consecutive, 24 h, ETc = 9) and autogenic training group (AT = 11). ST and ET met 60 min day−1, 3 days week−1 and AT 1 day week−1. Leg extension, incremental cycling with gas exchange, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and blood analysis were tested. The MANOVA revealed that STss improved MVIC (P < 0.01) and MQ (P ≤ 0.01). The VO2peak also increased significantly in ET group by 28% (ETi: P = 0.02, ETc: P = 0.01). A modality-specific effect on strength, MQ, and VO2peak in perimenopausal females was duly noted.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to express our gratitude to the sports scientists Julia Wiltschko (ET), Martina Brückl (ST), Florian Furtner (ST), and Barbara Hoeller (AT). Special thanks go to Sieglinde Graf for completing the DXA measurements and to Holger Förster, Walter Stoiber, and Martin Hudelmaier for their expertise throughout the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Rifer Schlossallee 49, 5400, Hallein, Salzburg, Austria

    Susanne Ring-Dimitriou, Serge P. von Duvillard & Erich Müller

  2. Department of Organismic Biology, University of Salzburg, Hallein, Salzburg, Austria

    Peter Steinbacher & Alexandra Maria Sänger

  3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, St Johanns Hospital and Paracelsus Private Medical School of Salzburg, Hallein, Salzburg, Austria

    Helmut Kaessmann

Authors
  1. Susanne Ring-Dimitriou
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  2. Peter Steinbacher
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  3. Serge P. von Duvillard
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  4. Helmut Kaessmann
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  5. Erich Müller
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  6. Alexandra Maria Sänger
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Correspondence to Serge P. von Duvillard.

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Ring-Dimitriou, S., Steinbacher, P., von Duvillard, S.P. et al. Exercise modality and physical fitness in perimenopausal women. Eur J Appl Physiol 105, 739–747 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-008-0956-7

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