Soccer for Menopause?

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in both men and women but it’s impact on women may be underrepresented. Previous research has found menopause can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. Today’s research article asks; ‘Can the effect of menopause on cardiac health be lowered by multi-component exercise in pre-menopausal women with high blood pressure?’

What happened?

The study followed pre-menopausal women in the Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) over 9 years. The women were split into two groups. The exercise group played 1 hour of soccer at least twice per week and the control group had no specific exercise plan.

Key Findings:

1. Cardiovascular Improvements (Heart):

   • Exercise significantly improved measurements of heart health

   • Specifically exercise reduced mean arterial pressure, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared to the control group, which showed increased levels in these metrics.

2. Body Composition:

   • Participants in the exercise group maintained or improved body weight, fat percentage, and lean body mass, whereas the control group showed significant increases in body weight and fat percentage.

3. Fitness:

   • The exercise group showed a improvement in exercise capacity, while the control group experienced a decline.

4. Muscle and Metabolic Health:

   • Despite long-term exercise, there were no significant differences in skeletal muscle oxidative capacity markers between groups. However, muscle glycogen levels increased only in the exercise group.

The study demonstrates that consistent multicomponent exercise (e.g., soccer) effectively counteracts the negative cardiometabolic effects of menopause and aging in women with high blood pressure.

What does this mean for me?

This research proves the importance of exercise as a preventive strategy to improve and maintain heart health during the menopausal stage of life. Multi-component exercise at least twice per week for an hour and you can reduce the risk of heart disease brought on by menopause, so go and find your sport!

Original Research 
Abiç, Arzu PhD, RN; Yilmaz Vefikuluçay, Duygu PhD, RN. The Effect of Yoga on Menopause Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Holistic Nursing Practice 38(3):p 138-147, May/June 2024.