Physical Exercise Effects on Cardiovascular Autonomic Modulation in Postmenopausal Women-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of an arm ergometer for a patient with knee osteoarthritis and central sensitization: A case report

Aerobic exercise may be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis and central sensitization, but no interventional studies have examined its effects. In this study, the patient showed improvement in central sensitization, pain, and autonomic nervous system activity after aerobic exercise using an arm ergometer.

Comparative Efficacy of Neuromodulation and Structured Exercise Program on Autonomic Modulation in Fibromyalgia Patients: Pilot Study

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder marked by widespread muscle and joint pain, persistent fatigue, sleep disturbances, and irregularities in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Methods: This study compared the effectiveness of neuromodulation using the EXOPULSE Mollii suit with a structured exercise program in regulating ANS function in fibromyalgia patients. In this randomized, longitudinal crossover study, 10 female patients were randomly assigned to either the Suit + Exercise group or the Exercise + Suit group. Each group participated in two sessions per week for eight weeks, followed by a two-week washout period before switching to the other intervention. We measured cortical arousal, microcirculation, and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after the 1st, 8th, and 16th sessions. Results: The results showed significant improvements in cortical arousal, HRV, and microcirculation with the neuromodulation treatment whereas the exercise program only produced short-term improvements in cortical arousal. Conclusion: The EXOPULSE Mollii suit exhibited cumulative benefits on ANS modulation over time, suggesting potential long-term advantages for managing fibromyalgia. However, further research is needed to explore the delayed effects of both treatments on ANS modulation.

Effect of Exercise Modality on Heart Rate Variability in Adults: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background

The purpose of this study was to use a network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), combined training (CBT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on adult heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, the Web of Science, Wanfang Data, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure to identify randomized controlled trials on the effects of exercise on HRV in adults. The search was conducted from the outset of these databases to April 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the retrieved articles, extracted raw data from the relevant studies, and assessed the possible risk of bias in the included studies.

Results

The NMA showed that HIIT had the greatest effect on the low-frequency (LF) power/high-frequency (HF) power ratio, standard deviation of normal-normal intervals (SDNN), and root mean square of successive differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) (surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) = 99.75%, 98.7%, and 84.9%); CBT had the greatest effect on the LF power (SUCRA = 66.3%); RT had the greatest effect on the HF power (SUCRA = 72.5%).

Conclusions

Our NMA and SUCRA ranking results suggest that in adults, HIIT is the most effective exercise modality in improving the SDNN, RMSSD, and LF/HF power ratio; RT for the HF power; CBT for the LF power. Any NMA conducted in the future must fully explore the effects of different exercise modalities on HRV in adult subgroups of different ages and genders.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=424054, identifier: CRD42023424054.

Effect of exercise on inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Postmenopausal women affected by overweight and obesity are susceptible to a variety of diseases due to inflammation. Exercise may reduce the risk of disease by attenuating low-grade chronic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women struggling with overweight and obesity.

METHOD

Literature as of May 2023 was searched from databases such as Cochrane, Embase, Pubmed, Web of Science, and EBSCO and English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that meet the inclusion criteria were selected. Studies were included based on the following criteria: (A) Written in English; (B) RCTs; (C) Postmenopausal women impacted by overweight and obesity as research objects; (D) Outcome measurements include CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and adiponectin; (E) Duration of the exercise intervention is eight weeks.

RESULTS

A total of 34 articles and 2229 participants were included. Exercise can significantly reduce the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD: -0.59, 95 % CI: -0.87 to -0.31, p < 0.00001), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (MD: -0.65, 95 % CI: -0.94 to -0.35, p < 0.00001), interleukin-6 (IL-6) (MD: -0.48, 95 % CI: -0.75 to -0.21, p < 0.00001), and exercise can significantly increase the level of adiponectin (MD: 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.02 to 0.65, p = 0.04) in women impacted by overweight and obesity.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that exercise may be an effective intervention for reducing pro-inflammatory markers and increasing adiponectin in postmenopausal women impacted by overweight and obesity. The findings may provide clinicians and healthcare professionals with insights into the implementation of exercise programs for postmenopausal women living with overweight and obesity.

Combined effect of physical exercise and hormone replacement therapy on cardiovascular and metabolic health in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The cardioprotective effect of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been demonstrated in several studies. Similarly, physical exercise has yielded positive results. However, the effects of their combination remain inconclusive. This review describes the combined effects of physical exercise and hormone therapy on cardiovascular and metabolic health in postmenopausal women. We searched the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases and included randomized controlled trials published up to December 2021 on the combined effects of physical exercise and hormone therapy on cardiovascular and metabolic health in postmenopausal women. We identified 148 articles, of which only seven met the inclusion criteria (386 participants; 91 [23%] HRT + exercise; 104 [27%] HRT; 103 [27%] exercise; 88 [23%] placebo). The combined treatment further decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared to the isolated effect of aerobic training (AT) (mean difference [MD]=-1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-2.65 to -0.72, n=73). Nevertheless, it attenuated the decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD=0.78; 95%CI: 0.22-1.35, n=73), and the increase in peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) promoted by exercise (AT + HRT=2.8±1.4 vs AT + placebo=5.8±3.4, P=0.02). The combination of AT and oral HRT improved SBP. However, AT alone seemed to have a better effect on physical fitness and DBP in postmenopausal women.