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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Method to Study the Impact of Chemically-induced Ovarian Failure on Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Adaptation in Mice
Published on: April 7, 2014
Exercise modality and physical fitness in perimenopausal women
Susanne Ring-Dimitriou1, Peter Steinbacher, Serge P von Duvillard
1Department of Sport Science and Kinesiology, University of Salzburg, Rifer Schlossallee 49, 5400, Hallein, Salzburg, Austria.
Abstract:
The effect of exercise modalities on determinants of sarcopenia, specifically, lean tissue mass, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), muscle quality (MQ), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2)peak) 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, ST(ss) = 7; hypertrophy, 2-4 s tension, ST(ht) = 8), endurance training (intermittent, >/=48 h rest, ET(i) = 7; consecutive, 24 h, ET(c) = 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 ST(ss) improved MVIC (P < 0.01) and MQ (P = 0.01). The VO(2)peak also increased significantly in ET group by 28% (ET(i): P = 0.02, ET(c): P = 0.01). A modality-specific effect on strength, MQ, and VO(2)peak in perimenopausal females was duly noted.
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