Circuit Training for Postmenopausal Women

Overseen By Everett Lohman, Dsc

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Loma Linda University

Must not be taking: Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressants

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, Orthopedic restrictions, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 27

Duration: 8 weeks

46 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this graduate student research study is to provide healthcare professionals with evidence of the potential of circuit strength training in improving the physical and psychosocial well-being of postmenopausal women.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that participants do not regularly use medications that could affect the study outcomes, like corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. If you are taking such medications, you may need to stop them to participate.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Short-term Circuit Training, Circuit Weight Training, Circuit Strength Training, Short-term Circuit Exercise for postmenopausal women?

Research shows that circuit training can help postmenopausal women improve muscle strength, reduce body fat, and lower cholesterol levels. It is also effective in enhancing bone health and balance, which are important for preventing falls. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is circuit training safe for postmenopausal women?

Research shows that circuit training, including low-load circuit resistance training and aerobic circuit training, is generally safe for postmenopausal women. Studies have reported benefits like reduced body fat and improved cardiovascular health without significant adverse effects. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

How is the treatment of circuit training unique for postmenopausal women?

Circuit training for postmenopausal women is unique because it combines low-intensity exercises with high volume and short rest periods, which can improve muscle strength, endurance, and bone health, unlike traditional high-intensity strength training that focuses on fewer repetitions with longer rest. ^{1 2 3 6 8}

Research Team

Everett Lohman, DSc

Principal Investigator

Loma Linda University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for sedentary postmenopausal women aged 50-75 who haven't done structured exercise in the last six months. They must be physically able to do exercises and not take certain medications or have health conditions that would make exercising unsafe.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a woman aged between 50 and 75 years.

No engagement in structured resistance or aerobic training programs in the six months preceding the study

Self-reported postmenopausal status (i.e., cessation of menstruation for a minimum of 12 months)

Exclusion Criteria

Classification as moderate and highly active on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (600-3000 MET-minutes/week for 'moderate' and higher than 3000 MET-minutes/week for 'high' score)

I am not on medication that could affect the study results.

I do not have health conditions that prevent me from exercising safely.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline Testing

Participants undergo initial data collection and basic tests, including informed consent and blood collection

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Experimental group participates in circuit strength training sessions three times a week for 8 weeks; control group maintains sedentary lifestyle

8 weeks

24 visits (in-person) for exercise group

Post-Treatment Testing

All participants undergo a second round of data collection to assess changes

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Short-term Circuit Training

Trial Overview The study is testing how short-term circuit training affects muscle mass and quality of life in these women compared to no exercise at all. It aims to provide evidence on whether this type of workout can improve their physical and mental well-being.

Participant Groups

Group I: Exercise Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This group will perform exercises three times a week for eight weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Group II: Non-Exercise Group Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will maintain their sedentary lifestyle and will not make any changes to their diet or activity levels during this period

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Loma Linda University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

322

Recruited

267,000+

Findings from Research

Both high-intensity strength training (ST) and circuit weight training (CWT) significantly improved muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in postmenopausal women after 24 weeks, with ST showing greater overall improvements.

Neither training method resulted in changes in bone mineral density (BMD), indicating that while strength and fitness levels improved, bone health may require different interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological adaptations to strength and circuit training in postmenopausal women with bone loss. Brentano, MA., Cadore, EL., Da Silva, EM., et al.[2022]

Both low-load circuit resistance training and traditional aerobic training led to significant reductions in body fat and serum lipid levels in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome, with no significant differences between the two training modalities.

After 6 months of training, neither group showed changes in insulin resistance or inflammatory markers, indicating that while body fat and cholesterol levels improved, insulin sensitivity remained unchanged.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Two Training Modalities on Body Fat and Insulin Resistance in Postmenopausal Women. Henríquez, S., Monsalves-Alvarez, M., Jimenez, T., et al.[2018]

A 4-week circuit aerobic step exercise program significantly improved bone formation, muscle strength, and body balance in 52 postmenopausal women, indicating its effectiveness as a targeted exercise for this demographic.

Participants in the exercise group experienced a notable decrease in resting heart rate and bone resorption, suggesting enhanced cardiovascular health and reduced bone loss, which are critical for preventing falls and fractures in postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Circuit Aerobic Step Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal for Prevention of Falling and Enhancement of Postural Balance in Postmenopausal Women. Anek, A., Bunyaratavej, N.[2015]

A study involving 141 early postmenopausal women showed that a 1-year resistance training program significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, with increases of +0.43% for non-HRT users and +0.70% for HRT users, demonstrating the efficacy of exercise in preventing bone loss.

Resistance training was found to be as effective as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in preventing bone loss, and combining HRT with resistance training did not provide additional benefits, suggesting that exercise alone can be a powerful strategy for maintaining bone health in postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of hormone replacement therapy and resistance training on spine bone mineral density in early postmenopausal women. Maddalozzo, GF., Widrick, JJ., Cardinal, BJ., et al.[2013]

A systematic review of 28 randomized controlled trials involving 2646 postmenopausal women suggests that a combination of 30 minutes of daily moderate walking and resistance training twice a week can significantly improve health-related fitness components such as body composition, bone density, and muscle strength.

The exercise program is feasible for sedentary individuals and can be easily integrated into daily life, with initial professional guidance recommended for resistance training, which can later be done at home with minimal equipment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise for health for early postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Asikainen, TM., Kukkonen-Harjula, K., Miilunpalo, S.[2022]

In a study of 45 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of resistance training significantly improved cardiovascular risk factors, including reductions in body mass index, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure.

The training also enhanced estimated peak VO2 and lowered total cholesterol levels, indicating that resistance exercises can be an effective strategy for improving heart health in postmenopausal women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of resistance training on cardiovascular disease risk factors in postmenopausal women: a randomized-controlled trial. Gelecek, N., Ilçin, N., Subaşi, SS., et al.[2013]

Combined circuit weight-interval training (CWIT) significantly increased blood lactate levels, heart rate, and perceived exertion compared to traditional circuit weight training (TRAD) and aerobic circuit weight training (ACWT), indicating a greater cardiovascular demand and intensity during workouts.

In a study involving 11 recreationally active women over 7 sessions, CWIT was shown to enhance fitness benefits and time-efficiency more effectively than traditional training methods, suggesting it could be a superior option for maximizing workout results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute effects of three different circuit weight training protocols on blood lactate, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion in recreationally active women. Skidmore, BL., Jones, MT., Blegen, M., et al.[2021]

A 12-month exercise program combining step aerobic and circuit training effectively prevented bone loss at the femoral neck in premenopausal breast cancer survivors, with a significant difference in bone mineral density changes compared to the control group.

In contrast, the same exercise intervention did not show any significant effect on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, indicating that menopausal status plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of exercise for bone health after breast cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of supervised and home exercise training on bone mineral density among breast cancer patients. A 12-month randomised controlled trial. Saarto, T., Sievänen, H., Kellokumpu-Lehtinen, P., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological adaptations to strength and circuit training in postmenopausal women with bone loss. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Two Training Modalities on Body Fat and Insulin Resistance in Postmenopausal Women. [2018]

3. Thailand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Circuit Aerobic Step Exercise Program on Musculoskeletal for Prevention of Falling and Enhancement of Postural Balance in Postmenopausal Women. [2015]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of hormone replacement therapy and resistance training on spine bone mineral density in early postmenopausal women. [2013]

5. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise for health for early postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of resistance training on cardiovascular disease risk factors in postmenopausal women: a randomized-controlled trial. [2013]

7. Turkey pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute effects of three different circuit weight training protocols on blood lactate, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion in recreationally active women. [2021]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of supervised and home exercise training on bone mineral density among breast cancer patients. A 12-month randomised controlled trial. [2021]