Feasibility of ballistic vs conventional resistance training in healthy postmenopausal women: A three-arm parallel randomised controlled trial

Objectives

Power training has gained attention as a method for enhancing functional performance and mitigating fall risk in older adults, yet its long-term feasibility and safety, particularly in ballistic resistance training, remain underexplored in postmenopausal women. We evaluated the feasibility of 8-month ballistic resistance training compared with conventional resistance training in postmenopausal women.

Study design

The Resistance Exercise Programme on Risk of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis in Females (REPROOF) study was a three-arm parallel group randomised controlled trial at a university lab in the UK. Healthy postmenopausal women (n = 109) were randomised to 30 weeks (2 sessions/week) of lower-body ballistic resistance training, conventional resistance training, or a non-exercising control group.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcomes, collected by questionnaire, were process feasibility, acceptability, perceived exercise efficacy, and adverse events.

Results

Eighty-two participants completed the trial (75.2 % retention). Both ballistic resistance training and conventional resistance training were well accepted, with most participants rating the intervention positively. No differences in the perceived improvements in physical function and psychological well-being were found between the resistance training groups. Similarly, there was no significant difference in the rate of muscle-related adverse events between the resistance training groups (ballistic, 2.7 per 100 person-weeks; conventional, 2.3 cases per 100 person-weeks), but the rate was significantly lower in the control group (0.9 cases per 100 person-weeks). No serious adverse events occurred during or within 24 h of exercise sessions.

Conclusions

The absence of serious adverse events and the observed positive outcomes confirm the safety, satisfaction, and perceived effectiveness of ballistic resistance training, suggesting its potential for broader application in healthy postmenopausal women.

ClinicalTrials.gov registry ID NCT05889598