Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown in Exercising Early Postmenopausal Women

Effects of Three Months of COVID-19 Lockdown Induced Deconditioning After 13 Months of High Intensity Exercise Training in Early Postmenopausal Women

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.

Outcomes assessors are unaware of participants group status and were not allowed to ask correspondingly

13 months of high intensity endurance and resistance exercise, 3x 45 min/week - 3 months of COVID-19 induced exercise break

cardio-metabolic risk factors summarized in the Metabolic Syndrome Z-Score according to the definition of the International Diabetes Federation

Menopausal symptoms as determined by the "Menopausal Rating Scale" (MRS) with a scale from 0 (no complaints) to 4 (very serious complaints).

Back and joint pain as determined by a standardized pain questionnaire with a scale from 0 (never) to 7 (permanent) for pain frequency or 0 (no pain) to 7 (extremely) for pain severity.

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

Kemmler W, Hettchen M, Kohl M, Murphy M, Bragonzoni L, Julin M, Risto T, von Stengel S. Detraining Effects on Musculoskeletal Parameters in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women: 3-Month Follow-Up of the Randomized Controlled ACTLIFE Study. Calcif Tissue Int. 2021 Jul;109(1):1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00223-021-00829-0. Epub 2021 Mar 12.

https://www.unibo.it/en/international/european-projects-of-education-and-training/actlife-physical-activity-the-tool-to-improve-the-quality-of-life-in-osteoporosis-people