Effect of a Moderate Intensity Aerobic Training Program with Elliptical Machine on Some Hormonal and Physical Indicators and Body Composition in Post-Menopausal Women with Insulin Resistance (Aged 45-50)
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of an 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic training programme using elliptical machine on insulin resistance, body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance and some metabolic and hormonal parameters in postmenopausal women (45 to 50 years old). A single-group design with pre- and post-test measurements was used by the researcher in their experimental technique. A purposive sampling method was used in the study, and the sample size was 15 women in the first sample and 10 women in the last after applying the exclusion, and inclusion criteria. The elliptical training programme that the participants completed had 44 sessions over the course of 12 weeks. Based on the Karvonen formula, we decided to aim for between 40% and 55% of HRR, and work in 20- to 30-minute blocks, gradually increasing to 1 hour. Adiponectin, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, weight, BMI, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, percentage of body fat, mass of fat, and mass free of fat, and distance covered in a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), which was used to assess cardiorespiratory endurance, were measured. These findings demonstrated statistically significant increases in adiponectin (73.81%), decreases in fasting insulin (22.75%), fasting glucose (12.41%), and HOMA-IR (32.34%) from pre- to post-measures. Fats mass (18.51%), body fat percentage (13.91%), waist circumference (4.56%), hip circumference (3.74%) and body mass index (5.32%) all showed significant decreases whereas fat-free mass (2.83%) showed a significant increase. The WHR showed a slight decrease (-0.87%), but remained fairly stable. This improvement was even greater for the 6-minute walk distance (17.31%). The findings indicate that an aerobic exercise program using an elliptical machine enhanced metabolic parameters, body composition and cardiorespiratory capacity during the moderate intensity exercise program.