Aim: Resistance exercises are suggested as a non-drug treatment to improve the complications of menopause (cognitive-nervous and inflammatory problems). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Circuit resistance training on the serum levels of BDNF and TNF-α in sedentary postmenopausal women.
methods: In this semi-experimental research, 30 postmenopausal women (age 54±3 years, body mass index 27.6±1.97 kg/m2) living in Tehran were randomly selected and assigned to two groups, Circuit resistance training groups (n=15) and control groups (n=15). Circuit Resistance training was performed for eight weeks, three sessions per week including 12 stations for the whole body with an intensity of 40-75%, one maximum repetition in three sets with repetitions between 8-12. 24 hours before and after the intervention, fasting blood was taken to measure BDNF and TNF-a were performed. Repeated measures ANOVA statistical method was used to analyze the data.
Results: In the resistance training group, compared to the control group, there was a significant increase in the levels of BDNF (%13.99) and a significant decrease in the levels of TNF-a (%32.92) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the present study, it seems that low-to-moderate Circuit resistance training with increased BDNF and decreased TNF-a was able to improve cognitive-neural and inflammatory factors in postmenopausal women.
