[ effect of 6-week submaximal training with and without external loading on cardiovascular fitness, balance, cortisol, and lipid profiles in osteoporotic postmenopausal women]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare submaximal aerobic exercise with and without external loading on physical fitness, balance and blood lipids in osteoporotic postmenopausal women

Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven volunteer osteoporotic postmenopausal women were randomly divided into three groups: aerobic [n=8], weighted vest [n=9], and control [n=10]. Training consisted of 18 sessions of submaximal aerobic walking on the treadmill 30 min daily for 3 times a week. [3 min warm-up, 24 min training with 50-60% Heart rate reserve [HRR], and 3 min cool down]. In the weighted vest group, subjects wore a weighted vest [4-8% of body weight]. Body composition, balance and, cardiovascular fitness parameters were measured before and after training and blood lipids and cortisol hormone levels were also assessed

Results: Fat decreased and lean mass increased significantly in the weighted vest group [P=0.027 and P=0.005 respectively]. HRrest and BPrest significantly decreased in the weighted vest and aerobic groups, respectively. After training, balance criteria increased significantly in the weighted vest and aerobic groups, but decreased in the control group. Cortisol levels showed a significant decrease in training groups. Lipid level changes were not significant

Conclusion: Results of this study showed the weighted vest training is better to improve physical fitness and balance in osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Cortisol depression after submaximal aerobic exercise may be effective in maintenance of bone mass in postmenoposal women

[ acute and permanent effects of short term aerobic training on coagulation and fibrinolytic factors and lipid profiles in postmenopausal women]

The risk of acute cardiovascular and thrombotic events increases after menopause. Changes in hormones, body composition and especially abnormalities in endogenous coagulation and the fibrinolysis system may play important roles in the risk of an acute cardiovascular event. Physical activity and physical fitness have consistently been linked to lower CVD rates in women. In this study we evaluated the effect of short-term aerobic training on the fibrinolytic and coagulative factors, anthropometric parameters and fat profiles in postmenopausal women. Twenty healthy postmenopausal women, aged between 48-55 years, were randomly divided into two groups, the training [n=10], and control groups [n=10]. Training consisted of 10 sessions of sub-maximal aerobic cycling, 35 minutes for a 3 weeks period, 3 times a week [5 min warm up, 25 min aerobic training, and 5 min active and 15 min passive recovery]. Changes in specific coagulation, fibrinolytic factors and fat profiles were assessed, both before the first, and again and before and after the 10th session of the aerobic program. At the end of the training we found no statistically differences in weight and BMI [Body Mass Index] between the two groups; lean body mass however increased [p=0.01] and percentage of fat decreased in the training group [p-0.05]. Rest heart rate [p=0.000], systolic [p=0.004] and diastolic blood pressure [p=0.05] and after [p=0.004] the 10th session, tPA-Ac showed a significant increase only after the 10th session [p=0.002]. Also fibrinogen [p=0.04] and vWF-Ag, [Von Willebrand Factor], showed significant reduction before and after the 10th session [p=0.004]. After training, total cholesterol [p=0.006], triglycerides [p=0.05] and LDL [p=0.03] decreased, whereas HDL [p=0.007] increased. In postmenopausal women aerobic training increased activity levels of fibrinolytic factors and decreased acute and permanent effects of coagulative factors. These changes in the coagulative factors and fat profiles suggest that regular sub-maximal aerobic training in postmenopausal women may prevent cardiovascular diseases

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation program on functional capacity following valvular heart surgery

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 4 to 6 week cardiac rehabilitation program [CRP] on the functional capacity improvement of patients six weeks following aortic and/or mitral valve replacement/reconstruction surgery. Fifteen volunteer subjects were enrolled in the CRP. Functional capacity was estimated by oxygen uptake [VO2] during exercise tolerance testing [GXT] before and after CRP. To determine the CRP mechanism and its effects on cardiac output, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] was measured by manual and automatic echocardiography. Heart rate [HR] and blood pressure [BP], as the criteria to evaluate patient's ischemic risk, were measured. All measurements were performed before and after CRP sessions. Functional capacity and VO2 at the maximum stage of the GXT increased significantly for the participants [from 6.67 to 9.92 Metabolic Equivalents, p<0.001]. Patient's LVEF increased significantly, and at rest HR and systolic BP decreased significantly [from 92.86 to 84.40 bpm, p<0.003, and from 113.33 to 104.00 mmHg, p<0.01, respectively] following CRP. No significant difference was noted between before and after CRP at rest diastolic BP [69.33 and 68.66 mmHg, p=0.6]. It is concluded that CRP strategies have positive effects on cardiac output, functional capacity and functional class improvement in patients who undergo aortic and/or mitral valve surgery