The effect of short-term aerobic training on coagulation and fibrinolytic factors in sedentary healthy postmenopausal women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of short-term aerobic training on the fibrinolytic and coagulative factors in postmenopausal women. Study design: Twenty volunteer sedentary healthy postmenopausal women (48-53 years), who entered the menopause naturally, were divided randomly into two groups: training (n = 10) and control (n = 10). Methods and main outcome measures: Training consisted of 10 sessions of submaximal aerobic cycling, 35 min for each session (5 min warm-up, 25 min aerobic training with 70% HRmax, 5 min active and 15 min passive recovery), 3 times a week. Coagulation and fibrinolytic factors were assessed both before and after aerobic program in both groups. Results: Fibrinogen, von Willbrand factor (vWF-Ag) antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity (PAI-1:Ac) and antigen (PAI-1:Ag) showed significant reduction after 10 sessions in the training group (P<0.05). Also after training, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), tissue plasminogen activator activity (tPA:Ac) and antigen (tPA:Ag) increased (P<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that fibrinolytic activity on postmenopausal women could be improved by a 3-week regular submaximal training program. These changes on the hemostatic factors suggest that short-term aerobic training may prevent the decline in fibrinolytic function observed in sedentary postmenopausal women. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.