Jennifer Aniston's fitness regime is better for menopausal women than government advice
Jennifer Aniston's fitness regime is better for menopausal women than following government advice on exercise, research suggests.
A study by the University of Exeter found that Pvolve – an at-home low-impact resistance exercise programme – is 'effective at improving strength and balance in women during and post-menopause'.
The pilates-inspired workout method, which includes strength training, balance and mobility exercises, and cardio bursts, became popular during lockdown.
Ms Aniston began doing the home exercise programme in 2021, calling it a 'gamechanger' – and joined the company two years later.
Researchers set out to examine whether the programme could improve strength, balance, and body composition.
They found that women aged 40 to 60 who followed the programme had far better results than those who simply followed the standard government health advice to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
The study is the first to compare the effect of resistance exercise training on muscle strength and mass before, during and after menopause.
The findings, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, come from a study of 70 moderately active women in the South West of England who were not taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
They were split into two groups, with 45 signed up to Pvolve for 12 weeks while 25 asked to follow the standard government health advice to do 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week.
Various measurements to test strength and fitness were taken before training started and again at the end of the 12-week period.
Credit: YouTube/Pvolve
The study, which was funded by Pvolve, found that those who participated in the exercise regime saw a 19 per cent increase in hip function and lower body strength compared with those in the standard exercise programme.
Lower body flexibility improved by 21 per cent in the Pvolve group, compared with the group who took part in standard exercise. They also saw a 10 per cent increase in balance and stability.
Women taking part in the Pvolve programme also saw an increase in lean muscle without increasing total body mass.
The training programme and usual exercise both appeared to have the same beneficial effect on shoulder strength, the authors found.
Changes in the body during the menopause are thought to accelerate age-related decline in muscle mass, strength, and stability.
But the study found that women who embarked on the regime had comparable improvements, whether they were pre, peri or post-menopausal.
Researchers said: 'This is the first study to demonstrate that the decline in sex hormones, and increase in age, across the menopause transition does not affect the ability of lower limb (hip) strength and balance to adapt to a low-impact resistance exercise training program in females not taking HRT.'
Professor Francis Stephens, from the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the research said: 'Women often see a decline in their muscle strength and balance shortly before, during and after the menopause.
'This ultimately increases the risk of falls and fractures later in life, particularly of the hip, which is why it's so important to find a way for women to maintain that strength and balance as they get older.
'The great thing about these simple resistance exercises is they can easily be performed at home, and we've now shown they're effective at improving strength and balance in women during and post-menopause.
'In fact, some measures of balance appeared to increase to a greater degree in post-menopausal women, suggesting that these exercises are not hindered by the menopause transition.'
Julie Cartwright, the Pvolve president, said: 'Women undergo tremendous physical change during the menopause transition, and this research shows that the Pvolve method can serve as an intervention, helping women to live better and feel better throughout their lives.'
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