Heart Rate Variability Characteristics in Sedentary Postmenopausal Women Following Six Months of Exercise Training: The DREW Study
2008

Heart Rate Variability in Sedentary Postmenopausal Women After Exercise Training

Sample size: 373 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Earnest Conrad P., Lavie Carl J., Blair Steven N., Church Timothy S.

Primary Institution: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System

Hypothesis

HRV would exhibit a dose effect following 6-months of exercise training in postmenopausal women.

Conclusion

Moderate intensity exercise training improves HRV in previously sedentary postmenopausal women in a dose-dependent manner.

Supporting Evidence

  • Exercise training at 8-KKW and 12-KKW significantly improved HRV compared to control.
  • Participants adhered to 92% of their exercise training sessions.
  • Baseline HRV measurements were taken before the exercise intervention.

Takeaway

Exercise can help make your heart work better, especially for women who haven't been active for a while.

Methodology

The study involved 373 postmenopausal women who underwent 6 months of exercise training at varying intensities.

Limitations

The study is limited to sedentary postmenopausal women, and results may not apply to other populations.

Participant Demographics

Participants were sedentary, overweight or obese postmenopausal women aged 45-75.

Statistical Information

P-Value

P<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0002288

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