Feasibility of ballistic vs conventional resistance training in healthy postmenopausal women: A three-arm parallel randomised controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and perceived effectiveness of ballistic resistance training compared to conventional resistance training in postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
Both ballistic and conventional resistance training were well accepted, with no significant differences in perceived improvements in physical function or psychological well-being. No serious adverse events occurred, and muscle-related adverse event rates were similar between training groups but lower in the control group.
Population
Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 109)
Effective Dosage
2 sessions per week
Duration
30 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ballistic resistance training | no change | acceptability | postmenopausal women | - | was well accepted | #1 |
conventional resistance training | no change | acceptability | postmenopausal women | - | was well accepted | #2 |
ballistic resistance training | no change | physical function and psychological well-being | postmenopausal women | - | no differences in the perceived improvements | #3 |
conventional resistance training | no change | physical function and psychological well-being | postmenopausal women | - | no differences in the perceived improvements | #4 |
ballistic resistance training | no change | rate of muscle-related adverse events | postmenopausal women | 2.7 per 100 person-weeks | no significant difference in the rate of muscle-related adverse events | #5 |
conventional resistance training | no change | rate of muscle-related adverse events | postmenopausal women | 2.3 cases per 100 person-weeks | no significant difference in the rate of muscle-related adverse events | #6 |
non-exercising control | decrease | rate of muscle-related adverse events | postmenopausal women | 0.9 cases per 100 person-weeks | rate was significantly lower | #7 |
ballistic resistance training | no change | serious adverse events | postmenopausal women | - | absence of serious adverse events | #8 |
ballistic resistance training | increase | safety, satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness | healthy postmenopausal women | - | observed positive outcomes confirm the safety, satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness | #9 |
OBJECTIVES: Power training has gained attention as a method for enhancing functional performance and mitigating fall risk in older adults, yet its long-term feasibility and safety, particularly in ballistic resistance training, remain underexplored in postmenopausal women. We evaluated the feasibility of 8-month ballistic resistance training compared with conventional resistance training in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: The Resistance Exercise Programme on Risk of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis in Females (REPROOF) study was a three-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial at a university lab in the UK. Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 109) were randomised to 30 weeks (2 sessions/week) of lower-body ballistic resistance training, conventional resistance training, or a non-exercising control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes, collected by questionnaire, were process feasibility, acceptability, perceived exercise efficacy, and adverse events. RESULTS: Eighty-two participants completed the trial (75.2 % retention). Both ballistic resistance training and conventional resistance training were well accepted, with most participants rating the intervention positively. No differences in the perceived improvements in physical function and psychological well-being were found between the resistance training groups. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the rate of muscle-related adverse events between the resistance training groups (ballistic, 2.7 per 100 person-weeks; conventional, 2.3 cases per 100 person-weeks), but the rate was significantly lower in the control group (0.9 cases per 100 person-weeks). No serious adverse events occurred during or within 24 h of exercise sessions. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of serious adverse events and the observed positive outcomes confirm the safety, satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness of ballistic resistance training, suggesting its potential for broader application in healthy postmenopausal women. CLINICALTRIALS: gov registry ID NCT05889598.