Comparison of combined training with and without vascular occlusion on selected physical fitness components in postmenopausal women

The purpose of this study was the comparison of combined training with and without vascular occlusion on selected physical fitness components in postmenopausal women. 28 untrained postmenopausal female (up to 50 years) were selected and randomly divided into three groups: Control (CON, n=9), Combined training (strength-aerobic) with vascular occlusion (CTO, n=10) and Combined training (strength-aerobic) without vascular occlusion (CT, n=9). Strength part CTO and CT performed with 20-30 % of 1RM and 65-80% 1RM, respectively; and aerobic part of combined training performed with 50-70 % HRmax. Exercise training program was conducted for eight weeks, 3 sessions per week. Before and after training program muscular strength, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance were taken. For analyzing the data, multivariate way MANOVA was used in SPSS 16 (P<0.05). Significant increase in muscular strength, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance were observed in CTO and CT in comparison with CON. There were no significant difference between CTO and CT. low intensity combined training with vascular occlusion has similar effect with high intensity traditional combined training on muscular strength, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance in postmenopause women. So, low intensity combined training with vascular occlusion can be substitute with high intensity combined training in postmenopause women.