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Exercise During Post Menopausal Years Works

This study reports results after the first three years in a five-year trial. The study was on exercise in early postmenopausal women. It's called the Erlangen Fitness Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS). EFOPS is sponsored by the Institute of Medical Physics and Institute of Sciences in Erlangen, Germany.

Two groups of postmenopausal women were included. Group one (the exercise group) did a twice-weekly program of group exercises. They also did a home training program two times a week. The exercises included warm ups, jumping, strength training, endurance, and stretching.

The second (control) group was a nontraining group. They just followed their normal lifestyle. There were no changes in their activity level. All women in both groups took vitamin D and calcium.

Each woman was tested for bone mineral density (BMD), body fat, and cholesterol levels. In addition, everyone kept track of any menopausal symptoms. Here's what the results showed after the first three years:

  • Muscle size and strength stayed the same in the control group (CG).
  • BMD in the lumbar spine, hip, and heel were unchanged in the exercise group (EG) and decreased in the CG.
  • BMD in the forearm decreased in both groups.
  • Cholesterol was lowered in the EG and increased in the CG.
  • Some menopausal symptoms (insomnia, migraines, mood) improved in the EG more than in the CG.
  • There was no change in hot flashes or depression for either group.

    This study shows how a program of mixed exercises can counteract the effects of age and reduced estrogen on early menopausal women.

    • Reference: 

    Wolfgang Kemmler, PhD, et al. Exercise Effects on Menopausal Risk Factors of Early Postmenopausal Women: 3-Year Erlangen Fitness Osteoporosis Prevention Study Results. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. February 2005. Vol. 37. No. 2. Pp. 194-203.

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