Detraining Effects on Musculoskeletal Parameters in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women: 3-Month Follow-Up of the Randomized Controlled ACTLIFE Study

Kemmler W, Hettchen M, Kohl M, Murphy M, Bragonzoni L, Julin M, Risto T, von Stengel S (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Calcified Tissue International Springer Verlag (Germany)

DOI: 10.1007/s00223-021-00829-0

Abstract

Periods of absence from supervised group exercise while maintaining physical activity might be a frequent pattern in adults' exercise habits. The aim of the present study was to determine detraining effects on musculoskeletal outcomes after a 3-month detraining period in early post-menopausal, osteopenic women. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we terminated the 18-month randomized controlled ACTLIFE exercise intervention immediately after the 13-month follow-up assessment. This put an abrupt stop to the high-intensity aerobic and resistance group exercise sessions undertaken three times per week by the exercise group (EG: n = 27) and the gentle exercise program performed once per week for the attention control group (CG: n = 27); but both groups were permitted to conduct individual outdoor activity for the 3-month lock-down period. Study endpoints were lean body mass (LBM), bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS), maximum hip-/leg extension strength and power. Detraining-induced reductions of LBM, hip/leg strength and power (but not BMD-LS) were significantly greater (p < 0.001 to p = 0.044) compared with the CG. Significant exercise effects, i.e. differences between EG and CG, present after 13 months of exercise, were lost after 3 months of detraining for LBM (p = 0.157) and BMD-LS (p = 0.065), but not for strength (p < 0.001) and power (p < 0.001). Of note, self-reported individual outdoor activities and exercise increased by about 40% in both groups during the lock-down period. Three months' absence from a supervised group exercise protocol resulted in considerable detraining effects for musculoskeletal parameters. Thus, exercise programs for adults should be continuous rather than intermittent. Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04420806, 06.05.2020.

Authors with CRIS profile

Wolfgang Kemmler Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Michael Hettchen Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik Simon von Stengel Lehrstuhl für Medizinische Physik und Mikrogewebetechnik

Involved external institutions

Hochschule Furtwangen DE Germany (DE) University of Ulster GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Bologna / Università di Bologna IT Italy (IT) Laurea University of Applied Sciences FI Finland (FI)

How to cite

APA:

Kemmler, W., Hettchen, M., Kohl, M., Murphy, M., Bragonzoni, L., Julin, M.,... von Stengel, S. (2021). Detraining Effects on Musculoskeletal Parameters in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women: 3-Month Follow-Up of the Randomized Controlled ACTLIFE Study. Calcified Tissue International. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00223-021-00829-0

MLA:

Kemmler, Wolfgang, et al. "Detraining Effects on Musculoskeletal Parameters in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women: 3-Month Follow-Up of the Randomized Controlled ACTLIFE Study." Calcified Tissue International (2021).

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