This review found that muscle strength , balance , and endurance can be improved by physical activity in people aged 40 - 65 years .
There were bigger effects on muscle strength from programs that used resistance exercises , indicating the need to include a resistance training component if strength enhancement is the goal
QUESTION Can physical activity  in adults aged 40 - 65 years enhance strength and balance and prevent falls ?
The Independent Effects of Exercise and Estrogen on Lipids and Lipoproteins in Postmenopausal Women
Objective : To assess the effects of a moderate exercise program with and without oral estrogen replacement on levels of lipids and lipoproteins in postmenopausal women . Methods : One hundred one postmenopausal women were r and omized into four groups : control or sedentary ( N=20 ) , exercise alone ( N=25 ) , estrogen replacement using 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen ( N=28 ) , and exercise supplemented with conjugated equine estrogen ( N=28 ) . The exercise groups were placed on a moderate exercise program . Following baseline testing , each group returned at 3 and 6 months for cardiorespiratory fitness testing and serum lipid and lipoprotein profiles . Results : We found a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure ( P < 05 ) in all treatment groups . The maximum oxygen uptake increased by 9.0 and 7.8 % in the exercise and conjugated equine estrogen/ exercise groups , respectively , compared to the other groups ( P < 05 ) . These responses were seen at both 3 and 6 months . Total exercise time ( time spent on the treadmill until exhaustion during testing ) significantly increased in the exercise group by 21 % ( P < 01 ) . Exercise alone was associated with significant decreases in total cholesterol ( 5.2 % P < 05 ) , triglycerides ( 2percnt ; P < 05 ) , and low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol ( 10 % P < 01 ) , and a significant increase in the high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol-LDL ratio ( 17.2 % P < 01 ) . Significant changes were noted in these values , as well as increases in HDL cholesterol ( 16 and 14.8 % P < 01 ) and apolipoprotein Aj ( 25.6 and 26.5 % P < 001 ) in the conjugated equine estrogen and conjugated equine estrogen/ exrespectively . However , there were no differences in the changes observed in the conjugated equine estrogen groups with versus without exercise . No direct correlation was seen between measures of exercise performance and the changes seen in lipids and lipoproteins . Conclusions : Estrogen therapy alone had the greatest beneficial effect on lipids and lipoproteins . Exercise alone result ed in a significant reduction in cholesterol , triglycerides , and LDL cholesterol , and an increase in the HDL-LDL ratio . However , combined conjugated equine estrogen and exercise did not demonstrate an added improvement in lipid metabolism . Physical fitness levels increased in the exercise groups , but not in the control group or the estrogen-alone treated women . ( Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:167 - 72
This review found that muscle strength , balance , and endurance can be improved by physical activity in people aged 40 - 65 years .
There were bigger effects on muscle strength from programs that used resistance exercises , indicating the need to include a resistance training component if strength enhancement is the goal
QUESTION Can physical activity  in adults aged 40 - 65 years enhance strength and balance and prevent falls ?