While "conditioning" by exercise training has been widely evaluated, the available literature on "passive deconditioning" (i.e. forced deconditioning) is predominately limited to studies with or with almost complete mechanical and/or metabolic immobilization/sedation of the respective functional system (e.g. paralysis, bedriddenness). Vice versa, the effects of moderately long interruptions of dedicated types of exercise while maintaining everyday activity are rarely addressed. However, this topic is of high relevance, e.g. considering that breaks of health-related exercise programs due to increased family/occupational stress, vacation or temporary orthopedic limitation are rather frequent in everyday life. In the present project we aimed to determine the effects of 3 months of physical deconditioning due to COVID-19 induced lockdown after 13 month of high intensity endurance and resistance exercise in early postmenopausal women on parameters related to health and physical fitness.
Other: HIT-exercise
13 months of high intensity endurance and resistance exercise, 3x 45 min/week - 3 months of COVID-19 induced exercise break
Other: Sham intervention
Types of exercise (flexibility, relaxation) that did not affect the present outcomes
Inclusion Criteria:
- (early)postmenopausal women, ( normal menopause, 1-5 years post)
- Osteopenia and osteoporosis (Bone Mineral Density <-1.0 SD T-Score)
Exclusion Criteria:
- BMD <-4.0 SD T-Score
- Prevalent clinical, low-trauma fractures
- Diseases and drugs with relevant effects on bone and muscle metabolism (e.g.
glucocorticoids >7.5 mg/d or bisphosphonate therapy); individual case assessment
- Diseases and drugs with relevant effects on cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g. severe
hypertension with corresponding medical therapy); individual case assessment
- Severe cardiovascular events (e.g. stroke, coronary infarction) in the past.
- Other conditions, diseases that exclude exercise training or testing
Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexanden University Erlangen-Nürnberg
Erlangen, Germany
Michael Hettchen, MSc, Principal Investigator
Institute of Medical Physics, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg