COMUNICACIONES

SYMPOSIUM EXERNET. Investigación en Ejercicio y Salud: Presente y Futuro en España.
Granada, 7-8 de Noviembre de 2014

Effectiveness of an exercise intervention on body composition and physical fitness in midlife women: the FLAMENCO project

V.A. Aparicio^a, A. Andrade^a, D. Camiletti-Moirón^a,*, M. Borges-Cosic^b, A.R. Peces-Rama^a, V. Segura-Jiménez^b, P.I.C. Álvarez-Gallardo^b, F. Estévez-López^b, A. Soriano-Maldonado^b, J.J. Martín^c, F.J. Gallo^d, M. Delgado-Fernández^b and A. Carbonell-Baeza^e

^aDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Sport Sciences, and Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Granada, Spain
^bDepartment of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
^cDepartment of Applied Economics. Faculty of Economics. University of Granada, España
^dDepartment of Physical Education. Faculty of Education Science. University of Cádiz, Spain
^eZaidín Sur healthcare centre and Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine. University of Granada, Spain
Correo electrónico: virginiaparicio@ugr.es (V.A. Aparicio).

Key words: Menopause. Physical fitness. Fat mass. Muscle mass. Aerobic capacity. Strength.

Aims. To determine the effects of an exercise intervention in perimenopausal women on body composition, cardiovascular response and physical fitness.
Methods. A total of 27 women from a healthcare centre of Granada with an age ranged 45-60 years participated in this pilot project. Fourteen (mean age 53.9 ± 4 years old) were randomly enrolled in a 9 weeks (60 min/session, 3 days/week) moderate-intensity exercise intervention based on aerobic and strength training completed with flexibility, balance-oriented, coordination and relaxation activities. We used standardized field-based fitness tests to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, upper and lower muscular strength, upper and lower flexibility and static and dynamic balance. Fatness was assessed by impedanciometry and anthropometry. We also measured resting heart rate and blood pressure. Non-parametric Wilcoxon test for paired samples was used.
Results. The exercise program performed decreased a 5% the body mass index, a 9% the waist circumference and an 8% the body fat percentage (all, P < 0.01). Despite we have observed an improved tendency in systolic (6.5%) as well as diastolic (3.5%) blood pressure after exercise; we cannot confirm this approach significantly (P = 0.08 and P = 0.05, respectively). Women improved a 7% their cardiorespiratory fitness (P < 0.05) and a 10% their lower-body muscular strength (P < 0.01). We have observed an improved tendency in static balance (15%) but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.08). Further research is needed in order to determine whether programmes of longer duration (>9 weeks) or higher frequency (>3 sessions/week) induce major improvements on upper muscular strength, dynamic balance and flexibility.
Conclusion. Overall, an exercise program for 9 weeks (3 sessions/week) significantly improved body composition, aerobic capacity and lower-body muscle strength in perimenopausal women. This is a pilot study that must be replicated and confirmed in higher sample size.