Preventing muscle and bone loss in peri-menopausal and early post-menopausal females with heavy strength and impact training: Results from the STOP-EM randomised waitlisted controlled feasibility trial.

Purpose: During the menopausal transition, female individuals experience declines in bone health. Menopausal female individuals also lose lean mass due to aging; however, few exercise trials have included peri- and early post-menopausal participants. The main objective of this study was to explore changes in prespecified secondary muscle and bone outcomes of the Strength Training for Osteoporosis Prevention during Early Menopause (STOP-EM) feasibility trial. Methods: STOP-EM was a randomised waitlisted controlled feasibility trial completed in Calgary, Canada. Participants were randomised to either a 9-month, twice-weekly, supervised progressive heavy strength (80-85% one-repetition maximum (1RM)) and impact (drop landings) training program ( Results: At baseline, mean age was 52.9 (SD: 4.1), 47.5% were peri-menopausal, and 7.5% were on menopausal hormone therapy. All 20 intervention participants and 18 waitlisted controlled participants returned at follow-up. 1RM improved by 12.6% to 30.5% for chest press, shoulder press, deadlift, and back squat lifts. The intervention group experienced increases in total body lean mass (between-group difference for change (95% CI) = 0.90 kg (0.08 to 1.72)), absolute leg power output (97 W (2 to 193)), and lumbar spine aBMD (0.020 g/cm Conclusions: Nine months of heavy strength and impact training increased lean mass, muscle strength, leg power output, and lumbar spine aBMD. These promising results warrant a definitive trial to assess the program's efficacy.