Effects of resistance training, tai chi chuan and mat pilates on multiple health variables in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of two concurrent training methods on the muscle strength, functional autonomy, cardiorespiratory capacity and quality of life (QoL) of postmenopausal women. Material and methods: Thirty-eight volunteers were allocated to two groups: Resistance Training (RT)+Tai Chi Chuan (TC) (n=16), and RT+Mat Pilates (MP) (n=12). For the RT+TC group, RT was linearly periodized twice a week, alternating weekly with TC. In the RT+MP group, RT was non-linearly periodized and alternated with MP in five sessions a week over a period of 16 weeks. Results: Intragroup improvement in QoL was observed for the physical health of RT+MP. The Cooper test showed improvement in the prediction test for both groups. Functional autonomy improved in the following: rising from a ventral decubitus position, rising from a sitting position, walking 10 meters, putting on and taking off a t-shirt (PTTs) and the GDLAM index (GI) in the RT+MP group. For RT+TC, PTTs and GI improved. With respect to strength, there was intragroup improvement in the RT+MP group for all upper limb exercises, knee flexion and 45º leg press. On the other hand, the RT+TC group showed improvements in high shoulder adduction, elbow extension, low shoulder adduction, pec deck pectorals and 45º leg press. Intergroup analysis showed better results in the 10mW test for RT+MP.

Effect of Pilates Exercise on Lipid Profile in Post Menopausal Obese Women

“…So, weight loss reduces serum TG levels and increases HDL levels came in agreement with the results of the present study. Araujo-Gomes et al, (2019) (26).Who had made a trial to study the effect of Pilates exercise on postmenopausal women health variables, Their results came in agreement with the results of the present study as they approved that Pilates exercise had a favorable effect on decreasing TG and increasing HDL-C that leading to improve the lipid profile in cases having metabolic syndrome and it also had good results in improving other health variables. As revealed by the study of Ruiz-Montero et al(2014) (27) who recorded a mixed aerobics and Pilates exercise program increases baseline muscle mass and reduces fat mass values for postmenopausal women.…”

Functional Autonomy Evaluation Levels in Middle-Aged and Older Spanish Women: On Behalf of the Healthy-Age Network

“…Walking 10 m is important for the individual to have the security and independence to cross a street or move from one room to another in the house. Araújo-Gomes et al [36] applied resistance exercises (3 days per week) and Pilates (2 days per week) in 12 postmenopausal women (age = 59.83 ± 5.0 years). After 16 weeks of intervention, those women improved the performance in this task (time: 5.71 s).…”

The impacts of combination of physical exercise programs on the functional capacity of patients with heart failure

“…The literature that is developing at this time shows that tai chi exercise can significantly influence blood pressure, pulse, and VO2max (Araújo-Gomes, Valente-Santos, Vale, Drigo, & Borba-Pinheiro, 2019). This is evidenced by several research findings in which 150 patients with an average age range of 45 to 65 years were diagnosed with chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (45% ejection fraction) according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I and II, then these patients did tai chi exercises for 50-60 minutes per session with a frequency of 2-3 times a week with a duration of 10 to 18 weeks, and the results obtained were significant differences in exercise capacity measured by the 6-minute walking test (6MWT).…”