In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .
Heart rate variability and exercise in aging women.
BACKGROUND Our group has shown a positive dose-response in maximal cardiorespiratory exercise capacity ( VO(2max ) ) and heart rate variability ( HRV ) to 6 months of exercise training but no improvement in VO(2max ) for women ≥60 years . Here , we examine the HRV response to exercise training in postmenopausal women younger and older than 60 years . METHODS We examined 365 sedentary , overweight , hypertensive , postmenopausal women r and omly assigned to  sedentary control or exercise groups exercising at 50 % ( 4 kcal/kg/week , [ KKW ] ) , 100 % ( 8 KKW ) and 150 % ( 12 KKW ) of the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) Consensus Development Panel physical activity guidelines . Primary outcomes included time and frequency domain indices of HRV . RESULTS Overall , our analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in parasympathetic tone ( rMSSD and high frequency power ) for both age strata at 8 KKW and 12 KKW . For rMSSD , the age-stratified responses were : control , < 60 years , 0.20 ms , 95 % confidence interval (CI)-2.40 , 2.81 ; ≥60 years , 0.07 ms , 95 % CI -3.64 , 3.79 ; 4 KKW , < 60 years , 3.67 ms , 95 % CI 1.55 , 5.79 ; ≥60 years , 1.20 ms , 95 % CI -1.82 , 4.22 ; 8-KKW , < 60 years , 3.61 ms , 95 % CI 0.88 , 6.34 ; ≥60 years , 5.75 ms , 95 % CI 1.89 , 9.61 ; and 12-KKW , < 60 years , 5.07 ms , 95 % CI 2.53 , 7.60 ; ≥60 years , 4.28 ms , 95 % CI 0.42 , 8.14 . CONCLUSIONS VO(2max ) and HRV are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) mortality . Despite no improvement in VO(2max ) , parasympathetic indices of HRV increased in women ≥60 years . This is clinical ly important , as HRV has important CVD risk and neurovisceral implication s beyond cardiorespiratory function
In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .