Effects of eight weeks of endurance-resistance training on some inflammatory markers and cardiovascular endurance in sedentary postmenopausal women

Blood inflammatory markers are important as a predictor of cardiovascular disease and exacerbation of risk factors. Physical exercise is well recognized as an important strategy for reducing the risk of inflammation and chronic disease, but the effect of endurance-resistance exercises on these parameters is remained largely unknown. This study was performed with aim to investigate the effect of combine endurance-resistance training on inflammatory markers in sedentary postmenopausal women.
This applicable semi-experimental study was performed on 22 postmenopausal women in Gilan province in 2015. They were randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups). Experimental group performed the eight weeks exercise training, three sessions per week and each session was 90 minutes. Aerobic exercises began at 50% of target heart rate and resistance training with a 50% of one repetition maximum intensity and both exercise intensity increased to 80% in the final session. Before and after 8 weeks of training, inflammatory variables including IL-6, TNF-α and hs-CRP and cardiorespiratory endurance were measured. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) and paired and independent t-tests.
The result showed that although 8 weeks of endurance-resistance training did not affect on serum TNF-α, however, it decreased hs-CRP along with IL-6 levels and increased cardiorespiratory endurance after the intervention (P=0.001).
Combined training with a reduction in hs-CRP along with IL-6 levels and an improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance can be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases.