نوع مقاله : علمی - پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 مازندران
2 گروه فیزیولوژی ورزشی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه مازندران، مازندران، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Abstract
Background and Objective: Menopause is a natural stage in women’s lives characterized by substantial hormonal alterations, particularly a decline in estrogen levels, which may adversely affect cardiovascular function, aerobic capacity, vascular regulation, and overall cardiopulmonary health. These physiological changes contribute to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and reduced functional capacity. Consequently, identifying effective non-pharmacological interventions to attenuate menopause-related physiological decline has become an important area of research. High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), due to its incorporation of multi-joint, whole-body movements performed at relatively high intensities, has been recognized as a promising exercise modality capable of eliciting favorable cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory adaptations. In addition, green cardamom, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, may contribute to improved cardiovascular health by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing physiological function. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of HIFT, with and without green cardamom supplementation, on cardiovascular hemodynamic indices and their responses to the modified Bruce exercise protocol in postmenopausal women.
Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. Forty healthy postmenopausal women who met the inclusion criteria voluntarily participated in the study and were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 10 per group): HIFT, green cardamom supplementation, HIFT plus supplementation, and control. The training intervention consisted of progressive high-intensity functional exercises performed five sessions per week for eight weeks. Participants in the supplementation groups consumed green cardamom daily throughout the intervention period. Cardiovascular hemodynamic variables, including heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), rate-pressure product (RPP), and mean arterial pressure, were assessed at rest and following the modified Bruce treadmill test. Furthermore, peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), oxygen pulse, time to exhaustion (TTE), and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) were measured before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance, and effect sizes were calculated for post hoc comparisons at a significance level of p < 0.05.
Results: The modified Bruce test induced significant increases in HR, SBP, and RPP across all groups (p < 0.001), indicating an expected physiological response to exercise stress. However, no significant between-group differences were observed in these acute hemodynamic responses. Following the eight-week intervention, resting hemodynamic parameters exhibited only minor, non-significant changes (p > 0.05). In contrast, significant improvements were observed in functional and cardiopulmonary performance variables, including VO₂peak, oxygen pulse, TTE, and FEV₁, among the intervention groups. The combined HIFT and supplementation group generally demonstrated the greatest magnitude of improvement. Effect size analyses revealed that most significant changes ranged from moderate to large, highlighting the practical relevance of the observed adaptations. Overall, interventions involving HIFT produced more pronounced benefits than supplementation alone.
Conclusion: Eight weeks of HIFT, either independently or in combination with green cardamom supplementation, significantly enhanced cardiopulmonary performance, exercise tolerance, and physiological efficiency in postmenopausal women. Although resting hemodynamic indices remained largely unchanged, improvements in exercise-related responses and functional capacity suggest meaningful adaptations in cardiovascular and respiratory function. These findings support the implementation of HIFT, particularly when combined with antioxidant supplementation, as an effective, safe, and practical non-pharmacological strategy for promoting cardiopulmonary health and mitigating menopause-associated physiological decline.
Keywords: High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), Menopause, Exercise Tolerance, Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamics, Green Cardamom, Cardiovascular Health.
کلیدواژهها [English]
)