EMPOWHER: ENHANCING MUSCLE IN PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH HIGH-INTENSITY EXERCISE AND RESISTANCE

This study evaluated the effects of high intensity resistance training (HIRT) on whole-body lean soft tissue (LST), muscle characteristics, and cardiometabolic health in perimenopause. Thirty-two perimenopausal women were randomized to 6-weeks of HIRT (TRAIN) or normal activity (CON). LST was evaluated via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and muscle size [muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA); muscle area (MA)] and quality [echo intensity (EI); Fat + Muscle Density (FMD)] with ultrasound and peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Metabolism was measured via indirect calorimetry and cardiometabolic health with blood serum. Analyses of covariance, adjusted for hormones and baseline values, resulted in significant improvements (p<0.05) in mCSA (MD±SE: 1.902±0.920 cm2), MA (413.044±197.813 mm2), and FMD (2.254±0.915 mg/cm3) in TRAIN, compared to CON and meaningful differences in LST (0.89 kg, p=0.090). HIRT is a powerful tool to improve muscle characteristics in perimenopausal women, with no significant metabolic effects.