Exercise modality and physical fitness in perimenopausal women

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.