Effect of Exercise on Non-exercising Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women - A Comparative Study

Purpose: This study examined the effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure and heart rate in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods Sedentary women (n=32) who were 35 to 55 years of age were participated in exercise training protocol (20 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 2 times a day for 2 weeks). Blood pressure, heart rate, weight, height, and B.M.I. were measured at baseline and after 2 weeks.

Results Using a paired sample t-test, significant changes (p<0.05) was observed from pre- to post- training in blood pressure, and heart rate. In Premenopausal females, systolic blood pressure averaged 124.88 +/- 10.01 mmHg and decreased to 121.38 +/- 8.02 mmHg at post-training. Diastolic blood pressure averaged 82.63 +/- 6.47 mmHg and decreased to 80.75 +/- 6.20 mmHg. In Postmenopausal females, systolic blood pressure averaged 137.75 +/- 9.60 mmHg and decreased to 136.38 +/- 8.86 mmHg at post-training. Diastolic blood pressure averaged 86.13 +/- 5.91 mmHg and decreased to 85.13 +/- 5.21 mmHg. An inverse correlation was identified between age at menopause and systolic blood pressure or diastolic blood pressure and a positive correlation was found between postmenopausal period and either systolic or diastolic blood pressure. The B.M.I. of both the samples was decreased after 2 weeks of exercise. An inverse correlation was identified between B.M.I. of both the samples and the distance walked by them.

Conclusion Two-weeks of aerobic exercise training are effective and can elicit changes in the cardiovascular variables of premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Our results suggest that aerobic exercise is an important strategy for prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. The blood pressure and heart rate were found to be reduced more in premenopausal females as compared to postmenopausal females.