Effects of resistance training and detraining on muscle strength and blood lipid profiles in postmenopausal women

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Abstract
Objectives:To study the effects of eight weeks of supervised, low intensity resistance training (80% of 10 repetition maximum (10RM)) and eight weeks of detraining on muscle strength and blood lipid profiles in healthy, sedentary postmenopausal women.Subjects:Fifteen postmenopausal women, aged 49–62 years, took part in the study. Subjects were assigned to either a control (n = 7) or training (n = 8) group. The training regimen consisted of three sets of eight repetitions of leg press, bench press, knee extension, knee flexion, and lat pull-down, three days a week at 80% of 10RM. Dynamic leg strength, 10RM, and blood lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C), triglycerides, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) were measured at baseline, after eight weeks of training, and after a further eight weeks of detraining.Results:Eight weeks of resistance training produced significant increases in knee extension (F1,13= 12.60; pF1,13= 13.79; pF1,13= 15.65; pF1,13= 16.60; pConclusions:These data suggest that a short, low intensity resistance training programme produces substantial improvements in muscle strength. Training of this intensity and duration was not sufficient to produce significant alterations in blood lipid concentrations.