Time to Load Up-Resistance Training Can Improve the Health of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Scoping Review

Chris Kite, Elizabeth Parkes, Suzan R Taylor, Robert W Davies, Lukasz Lagojda, James E Brown, David R Broom, Ioannis Kyrou, Harpal S Randeva

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Guidelines for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) focus on lifestyle changes, incorporating exercise. Whilst evidence suggests that aerobic exercise may be beneficial, less is known about the effectiveness of resistance training (RT), which may be more feasible for those that have low fitness levels and/or are unable to tolerate/participate in aerobic exercise. To identify the available evidence on RT in women with PCOS and to summarise findings in the context of a scoping review. Studies utilising pre-post designs to assess the effectiveness of RT in PCOS; all outcomes were included. Four databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, CINAHL and SportDiscus) were searched and supplemented by hand searching of relevant papers/reference lists. Extracted data were presented in tables and qualitatively synthesised. Searches returned 42 papers; of those, 12 papers were included, relating to six studies/trials. Statistical changes were reported for multiple pertinent outcomes relating to metabolic (i.e., glycaemia and fat-free mass) and hormonal (i.e., testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin) profiles. There is a striking lack of studies in this field and, despite the reported statistical significance for many outcomes, the documented magnitude of changes are small and the quality of the evidence questionable. This highlights an unmet need for rigorously designed/reported and sufficiently powered trials.
Original languageEnglish
Article number53
Number of pages16
JournalMedical sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
Volume10
Issue number4
Early online date22 Sep 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 22 Sep 2022

Bibliographical note

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and
conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Keywords

  • lifestyle
  • Testosterone
  • hormones
  • quality of life
  • Female
  • metabolism
  • Resistance Training
  • strength training
  • Life Style
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - therapy
  • Humans
  • women’s health

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Time to Load Up-Resistance Training Can Improve the Health of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A Scoping Review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this