Effect of six-week extracorporeal shockwave therapy in combination with aerobic exercise on body composition and serum lipids of obese women

Purpose. Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is a significant health concern for postmenopausal women as it increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of six weeks of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on truncal obesity and serum lipids in obese postmenopausal women. Material and Methods. In this study, forty postmenopausal women who were obese were randomly divided into two equal groups. The experimental group received abdominal shockwave therapy for 12 sessions twice a week, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (60-75% of maximum heart rate) twice a week, and a restricted calorie diet for six weeks. On the other hand, the control group only received moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (60-75% of maximum heart rate) twice a week and a restricted calorie diet for six weeks. Both groups were assessed for body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and serum lipids before and after the treatment period. Results. Both groups experienced a significant reduction in body mass index and waist circumference. The experimental group also demonstrated significant reductions in waist-hip ratio, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels while experiencing a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein levels after treatment compared to before treatment. When comparing the two groups after the treatment, the study group showed a more significant decrease in body mass index (p<0.040), waist circumference (p<0.012), total cholesterol (p<0.013), and triglyceride (p<0.016) levels, which was more favorable for women in the study group than in the control group. Conclusion. Shock wave is a beneficial method that might be incorporated into diet and exercise to improve truncal obesity and lipid profile in postmenopausal women with obesity.