The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the current CDC/ACSM physical activity recommendation, ("30 minutes or more of accumulated moderate-intensity activity, most if not all, days of the week") would improve women's health through a reduction ofcoronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Twenty-one sedentary females (ages 49 ± 7 yrs.) with one or more CHD risk factors underwent baseline laboratory including: resting heart rate and blood pressure, resting electrocardiogram, body mass index, bioelectrical impedance, skinfold measures, waist-to-hip, blood lipid profile, and V02max. The VO2 was determined by an exercise treadmill test using the Ball State University Ramp protocol. The subjects were instructed on the CDC/ACSM recommendation, the physical activity survey, and given examples of moderate-intensity activity. The survey data was collected bimonthly over the six month period. The subjects reported participating in >_ 30 min. of moderate-intensity activity an average of 4 f 1 days/week with an average duration of 54 ± 26 min. On the remaining days, the subjects reported doing an average of 14 ± 6 minutes per day. Also, 90% of the women reported doing the activity in continuous bouts. Following the six month study period, the women were retested in the laboratory. Sixteen subjects completed the post-testing. The results of the sixteen women showed a significant improvements in HDL-cholesterol (51 ± 15 vs.56 ± 15 mmHg; p=<.05) and TC/HDL ratio (4.5 ± 1 vs.4.25 ± 1.3; p=<.05). There were no significant changes in the other risk factor variables examined or their V02,„.. It was concluded that the majority of previously sedentary, middle aged women can not meet the CDC/ACSM recommendations for daily activity and total energy expenditure. Additionally, it appears that when given the choice, these women choose to do activity in continuous time blocks versus breaking the daily activities into shorter time periods. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was (1) to compare the lower body strength, power, and the bone mineral density (BMD) of the proximal femur in a group of trained postmenopausal women who have been in low intensity exercise program for a long time with age-matched sedentary controls, and (2) to evaluate the magnitude of the correlation between muscle function and site-specific BMD in these postmenopausal women. Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 17) between the age of 60 and 80 were divided into two groups: 9 exercisers (mean ± SE, 74.8 ± 3.2 years) who had been in an exercise training program for at least 5 years and 8 control (mean ± SE, 71.6 ± 3.4 years) who had not been in any exercise program for at least 5 years. The exercise group performed three one hour sessions a week of aerobic and resistance training for an average of 9.9 years. The exercise training consisted of 30 minutes walking and one or two sets of twelve to fifteen repetitions focused on large muscle groups. The BMD of the proximal femoral region was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). By using a Cybex Leg Press machine, 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) tests were performed for lower body strength and power of lower body were obtained by a seated chair rise. Statistical analysis demonstrated no statistical differences between the left and right region of the femur BMD for either group, with the averaged BMD being 0.858 g/cm2 for the controls and 0.853 g/cm2 for the exercisers. The trochanter BMD for the exercisers were 7 % (left) and 6 % (right) higher than the controls although these values were not statistically significant. The 1RM leg press strength ranged from 29.5 to 47.6 kg (mean ± SE, 40.21 ± 2.62 kg) in controls and from 31.8 to 61.2 kg (mean ± SE, 45.93 ± 3.72 kg) in exercisers. Although the exerciser group lifted 14.2 % more weight than the control group, the difference was not statistically significant. The results of power test ranged from 14.59 to 31.21 kg • m/sec (mean ± SE, 22.94 ± 5.67 kg • m/sec) in controls and from 13.63 to 38.60 (mean ± SE, 28.88 ± 6.81 kg • m/sec). The power did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, it is noted that between group differences approached significance at p < 0.07. Correlations between body composition and femoral neck BMD were also determined. Neither weight, nor BMI was significantly correlated with femoral neck BMD in the exercise and control group. Lower body strength and power did not correlate with the BMD of the femoral neck, Ward's triangle, or trochanter in either group. Although the BMD of the proximal femoral region did not differ between two groups the higher mean age (+ 3.2 years) of the exercise group suggested that a low intensity exercise training program can increase power and strength and maintain BMD in postmenopausal women. However, the low intensity of resistance training program utilized by the exercise group was no more effective in maintaining BMD than an active lifestyle. / School of Physical Education

Thirty-one college age females enrolled in aerobic dance conditioning classes were subjects. The purposes were to determine if aerobic dance is sufficiently vigorous to elicit a heart rate capable of producing a training effect and to determine whether a training effect heart rate level can be maintained. The narco-biosystems telemetry was used to monitor heart rates. Each subject performed one aerobic dance at three trials. Twelve-minute run/walk pretests and post-tests were given to assign fitness levels. Results of the study indicate that aerobic dance is an effective cardiovascular training program. Resting heart rates decreased, fitness levels improved, and training intensity heart rates were elicited and maintained at each of the trials.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare relationships between dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviors and body composition and body fat distribution, as measured by percent body fat (BF%), waist-to-height ratio (WHt), waistto- hip ratio (WHp) and body mass index (BMI) in post-menopausal women (Post), with the same relationships in pre-menopausal women (Pre). METHODS: Ninety-two subjects (n = 48 Post; n = 44 Pre) were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Dietary content was obtained from a Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ II); PA was estimated from responses to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Multiple regression identified no modifiable predictor variables for Pre. Models for Post identified saturated fat grams (SFGs), PA, years postmenopause (YrsPost), and Alcohol (Alc) as predictors of WHt, WHp, BMI and BF%. CONCLUSIONS: PA, SFG and Alc are modifiable variables related to postmenopausal body composition and fat distribution. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to determine if surgically-induced menopause in younger women affects substrate utilization during submaximal exercise while controlling for other potential confounds. METHODS: Thirteen untrained female subjects (33-50 years old) were recruited: oophorectomized (Group O = 5) and premenopausal controls (Group C = 8). Two separate visits included: body composition and maximal treadmill exercise test; followed by substrate utilization via open-circuit spirometry during 45 minutes of treadmill walking at 50% VO2max. RESULTS: When controlling for multiple variables affecting whole-body substrate utilization (age, VO2max, physical activity, body composition, fasting glucose, menstrual phase and diet), there was no difference in substrate utilization between pre- and postmenopausal women as measured by respiratory exchange ratio (RER) (0.83 ± 0.04 v 0.84 ± 0.03, p=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: Menopausal status does not appear to have an effect on substrate utilization during submaximal exercise in younger women. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2006. / "May, 2006." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-217). Online version available on the World Wide Web.

The National Women's Health Information Center reports that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to American women and that nearly one-third of American women have been physically assaulted by their significant other at some point in their lives. These women often experience depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and grief (Campbell et al., 1995). Literature supports the use of physical activity in promoting psychological well-being. The purpose of this study, then, was to evaluate the influence of physical activity on how survivors of domestic violence view themselves and their circumstances. The participants were seven women (18 to 54 years) who had been in abusive relationships, on average for eleven years, and who had recently left their partners. The participants were given access to an exercise facility and participated in one, two, three, or four interviews at one-month intervals. Interview questions covered abuse history, physical activity levels, self-view, emotional status, and how exercise may have influenced these factors. Qualitative analysis of 11 participants' responses revealed that exercise gave women the perception of healing, "getting out of trauma mode," of working towards a future self, "moving towards the vision of the type of person that I want to be," and freedom. Exercise improved their self-view by demonstrating to them that they were advancing beyond their abuse-controlled lives; that they were taking care of themselves. Women found exercise an effective means of "eliminating nervous energy" that resulted from being battered women, which in turn improved emotional status. Results are discussed in terms of the unique benefits derived from physical activity by these women, how exercise enhanced their recovery, and suggestions made by participants as to how the benefits of exercise could be fully realized. / Graduation date: 2004

Low physical activity levels and high serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) in both men and women. However, postmenopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may have increased risk of CAD because of HRT-related increases in serum CRP. There are two manuscripts in this dissertation. The purpose of the first manuscript was to determine whether higher physical activity energy expenditure was associated with lower serum CRP, independent of oral HRT status and body fatness, in 133 postmenopausal women. Higher physical activity energy expenditures were significantly associated with lower serum CRP levels (r=-0.21, p=0.0l9), independent of oral HRT use, age, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, aspirin use, and statin use. However, in the complete multivariate model, which included body fat, the association between higher physical activity and lower serum CRP levels was abolished. The purpose of the second study was to quantify the biological variability of insulin resistant CAD risk factors in a sample of 8 postmenopausal women. Risk factor outcomes, including serum total cholesterol, serum triglycerides (TG), serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), serum glucose, plasma insulin, serum CRP, waist and hip circumferences, abdominal sagittal diameter, body fat, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure, and self-reported physical activity energy expenditure, were measured on two occasions, 7-12 days apart. High absolute biological variability values (by standard error of measurement) were observed for serum TG (32.0 mg/dl), serum CRP (5.6 mg/l), SBP (4.0 mmHg), and physical activity (9.4 kcal/kg/week). High relative biological variability (by within-subjects coefficient of variation ���27.3%) was also observed for serum TG, serum CRP, and physical activity. Bland-Altman plots identified individual outliers for serum TG, serum CRP, plasma insulin, and SBP. Together, the results suggest that the correlations between lower levels of serum CRP and higher levels of physical activity, though significant, may have been attenuated by the high biological variability of both serum CRP and physical activity. Thus, the importance of higher levels of physical activity, in decreasing serum CRP and the concomitant risk of heart disease, may be underestimated in the absence of serial measurement of serum CRP and physical activity. / Graduation date: 2002

We evaluated anthropometric and performance measures which best predict bone mineral density (BMD) in 54 adolescent girls (14.6��0.5y; 22.7��14.0 months past menarche). BMD for the whole body, femoral neck, greater trochanter, lumbar spine (L2-L4), and mid-femoral shaft was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR 1000/W). Whole body lean mass and fat mass were derived from the whole body scan. Knee extensor strength and leg power were assessed by isokinetic dynamometry and the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test, respectively. Using simple regression, lean mass was significantly correlated with BMD at all bone sites r=.45-.77; p<0.001), and was more highly correlated with BMD at all sites than was body weight. Maximum leg power was also associated with bone mass at all sites (r=.41-.67; p<0.001) while leg strength correlated significantly with all sites (r=.41-.53; p<0.001) except the lumbar spine. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that 59% of the variance in whole body BMD was predicted by lean mass alone. No other variables, including fat mass, height, months past menarche, leg power, or leg strength, contributed additionally to the regression model. Similarly, lean mass was the only predictor of lumbar spine and femoral shaft BMD (R��=.25, R��=.37, respectively), while femoral neck and trochanteric BMD were best predicted by leg power (R��=.38, R��=.36, respectively). In this group of adolescent girls, lean body mass and leg power independently predicted bone mineral density of the whole body, lumbar spine, femoral shaft, and hip, which may suggest an important role for muscle mass development during growth to maximize peak bone density. / Graduation date: 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine if a 5-month progressive-resistance exercise program would affect measures of activities of daily living (ADLs) and functional stability in elderly women. All subjects were ambulatory women, 80 to 93 years old, who lived in assisted-care facilities. Eight exercise and 7 control subjects completed the 5-month study. Exercise subjects participated 3 times weekly in progressive resistance of the lower extremities and upper extremities. ADLs were assessed by the Barthel Index, and functional stability was assessed by timed measures of rising from a chair, walking, and standing, feet together, with eyes open and eyes closed. All subjects were tested at 0, 10, and 20 weeks. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, significant differences were seen only in an overall Group effect (p<.0005). The Eyes Open stance (p=.02) and Walk (p=.01) measures contributed most to this effect. The lack of significance in other analyses may have resulted from low sample size, high variation of scores, initial group differences, or perhaps an ineffective treatment program. / Graduation date: 1997