Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Postmenopausal Well-Trained Women.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sex hormone deprivation derived from menopause may affect exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). No studies have previously evaluated this response between postmpenopausal and premenopausal eumenorrheic women over the menstrual cycle.

HYPOTHESIS:

Postmenopausal women will present higher EIMD markers than premenopausal women, especially in comparison with the menstrual cycle phases where sex hormone concentrations are higher.

STUDY DESIGN:

Cross-sectional study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Level 3.

METHODS:

Thirteen postmenopausal and 19 eumenorrheic women, all of them resistance-trained, performed an eccentric squat-based exercise. The postmenopausal group performed 1 bout of exercise, while the eumenorrheic group performed 3 bouts coinciding with the early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases ot their menstrual cycle. Muscle soreness, countermovement jump, creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and C-reactive protein were evaluated before and postexercise.

RESULTS:

The expected differences in sex hormones were observed between groups (P < 0.001) according to their reproductive status. Postexercise increases in CK, myoglobin, and muscle soreness (168.2 ± 45.5 U/L, 123.1 ± 41.5 µg/L, and 20.7 ± 21.3 mm, respectively) were observed in comparison with baseline (136.2 ± 45.5 U/L, 76.9 ± 13.8 µg/L, and 2.7 ± 4.2 mm, respectively). Myoglobin values at baseline in postmenopausal women were higher compared with premenopausal women in the aforementioned menstrual cycle phases, respectively (62.8 ± 8.2, 60.4 ± 7.2, and 60.1 ± 10.6 µg/L; P < 0.001 for all comparisons), which was supported by large effect sizes (0.72-1.08 standardized d units). No postexercise differences were observed between groups in any markers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Despite higher resting levels of myoglobin and lower strength values in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women, EIMD was similar between both reproductive profiles. This suggests a potential benefit of being physically active despite aging and sex hormone deprivation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Sex hormone deprivation derived from menopause seems not to influence muscle damage reponse to eccentric exercise in resistance-trained postmenopausal women.

• Authors: Nuria Romero-Parra, Cristina Maestre-Cascales, Nuria Marín-Jiménez, Beatriz Rael, Victor M Alfaro-Magallanes, Rocío Cupeiro, Ana B Peinado
• Journal: Sports health (Sports Health) 2021 Nov-Dec Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 613-621 ISSN: 1941-0921 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34039086 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Exercise
• Female
• Humans
• Muscle, Skeletal
• Myalgia
• Postmenopause