News
On May 27th, we hosted a StrongWomen Training Workshop for 40 health professionals from across the country—and beyond. Attendees came from eleven states as well as Canada and Mexico. It was a fun and exciting day, and we are optimistic about the opportunity to bring the StrongWomen Program to women all around the world. The next StrongWomen Workshop will be held in Fall 2004. Please check back for the scheduled date, or contact Rebecca Seguin via email for help and information.
Highlights
For years we have known that mid-life can bring numerous physiological changes for women—some of them not positive ones, such as loss of muscle mass and bone. Fortunately, research has shown that targeted exercise can help avert these changes and provide substantial health benefits.
Until now, studies have primarily examined one mode of exercise and observed its positive effects on a particular outcome, such as how strength training can help prevent bone loss during the menopausal years. Now, scientists in Germany looked at the impact of a program made up of multiple types exercise to determine its effects on numerous health outcomes.
A group of women aged 48–60 participated in a program of aerobic, strength, jumping, and flexibility exercises while a similar group of women remained sedentary. The exercise group not only gained strength but also retained bone density, increased cardiovascular fitness, and reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to the sedentary group of women.
These important findings demonstrate the power of a multi-faceted exercise program in combating the negative consequences of decreased bone mass, strength, aerobic fitness, and cardiovascular health that too often accompany the early menopausal years. This study also reinforces what we have suspected all along—that avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and engaging in a sound exercise program may help women reduce their risk of numerous chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease.
Reference: Kemmler W and colleagues. Benefits of 2 Years of Intense Exercise on Bone Density, Physical Fitness, and Blood Lipids in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1084–1091.