Preventing muscle and bone loss in peri-menopausal and early post-menopausal females with heavy strength and impact training: Results from the STOP-EM randomised waitlisted controlled feasibility trial.

PURPOSE: During the menopausal transition, female individuals experience declines in bone health. Menopausal female individuals also lose lean mass due to aging; however, few exercise trials have included peri- and early post-menopausal participants. The main objective of this study was to explore changes in prespecified secondary muscle and bone outcomes of the Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention during Early Menopause (STOP-EM) feasibility trial.

METHODS

STOP-EM was a randomised waitlisted controlled feasibility trial completed in Calgary, Canada. Participants were randomised to either a 9-month, twice-weekly, supervised progressive heavy strength (80-85% one-repetition maximum (1RM)) and impact (drop landings) training program (n = 20) or the waitlisted controlled group (n = 20). Inclusion criteria included being between 45 and 60 years old and peri- or early post-menopausal. Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation, while participants were not blinded. Outcomes included lean mass, muscle strength, leg power output, and areal bone mineral density (aBMD).

RESULTS

At baseline, mean age was 52.9 (SD: 4.1), 47.5% were peri-menopausal, and 7.5% were on menopausal hormone therapy. All 20 intervention participants and 18 waitlisted controlled participants returned at follow-up. 1RM improved by 12.6% to 30.5% for chest press, shoulder press, deadlift, and back squat lifts. The intervention group experienced increases in total body lean mass (between-group difference for change (95% CI) = 0.90 kg (0.08 to 1.72)), absolute leg power output (97 W (2 to 193)), and lumbar spine aBMD (0.020 g/cm2 (0.001 to 0.034)) compared to the waitlisted controlled group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nine months of heavy strength and impact training increased lean mass, muscle strength, leg power output, and lumbar spine aBMD. These promising results warrant a definitive trial to assess the program's efficacy.