None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are at an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic complications which can include insulin resistance, damaged blood vessels, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Some studies have shown that regular exercise can help to reduce tissue fat levels, improve glucose control, blood flow and fitness. However, the optimal type and dose of exercise for health improvement in women with polycystic ovary syndrome is unclear. Recently, high-intensity functional training (HIFT) has become increasingly popular, particularly among younger women. This form of training focuses on performing repeated functional, multi-joint movements which can incorporate aerobic and/or muscle-strengthening components. Consequently, we aim to determine whether this form of training can improve fitness and health outcomes in women with PCOS. We’ll be comparing the effectiveness of HIFT on physical fitness and cardiometabolic outcomes to an exercise program matching the current physical activity guidelines, as well as to usual-care in women with PCOS. The results produced from this study will provide a greater evidence base for future physical activity guidelines for PCOS.
Interventions
Group 1 - High-intensity functional training (HIFT)
The HIFT intervention will be supervised by a certified fitness professional. HIFT will include both “cardio” or “resistance” sessions. The cardio sessions include body weight and dynamic movements which target the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The resistance sessions use weighted functional movement patterns to target muscle mass, strength, and power. Both the cardio and resistance sessions last a total of 45 minutes. Participants will
Group 1 - High-intensity functional training (HIFT) The HIFT intervention will be supervised by a certified fitness professional. HIFT will include both “cardio” or “resistance” sessions. The cardio sessions include body weight and dynamic movements which target the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The resistance sessions use weighted functional movement patterns to target muscle mass, strength, and power. Both the cardio and resistance sessions last a total of 45 minutes. Participants will initially be prescribed one exercise session per week (aerobic session) in week 1, two exercise sessions per week (1 aerobic sessions and 1 resistance session) in week 2. From week 3, participants will be asked to attend three HIFT (2 aerobic sessions and 1 resistance session) classes per week. Location where intervention will be delivered: F45® Bulli or Corrimal, Mode of delivery: the exercise sessions will be delivered in groups of no more than 30 people per class. Duration of intervention: 12 weeks. Intensity of duration: participants will be asked to work out at an intensity equivalent to 13-17 RPE during the active exercise period. Examples of exercises prescribed as part of the intervention: squats (bodyweight and weighted back squats), deadlift, push-press, medicine ball throws, skipping (including double-unders) and more. Adherence: Adherence will be monitored through session attendance checklists and HR will be recorded by a HR monitor. Group 2 - Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG) Participants in PAG will be prescribed an exercise program that is consistent with current Australian physical activity guidelines for 12 weeks. This includes instruction to undertake 150 min of moderate-intensity or 75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise per week in addition to two resistance training sessions per week. Participants will be asked to attend the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute to undertake supervised resistance training sessions two times per week which will include 4 upper body exercises, 2 lower body exercises, and 1 core exercise. Participants will have their exercise behaviour monitored weekly via text messages. Duration of intervention: 12 weeks. Duration of resistance training sessions: 1-hr. Supervision of exercise: resistance training will be supervised by an Accredited Exercise Scientist, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, or by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist clinical placement student under the guidance of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Mode of delivery: one-on-one or in groups of no more than 6 people. Resistance training prescription: 3 Sets of 10-12 repetitions at 55-75% 1RM. Text messages: Weekly text messages will be sent to remind participants to undertake 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. the text messages will also include their resistance training session details including time and locations. Adherence: resistance training sessions will be monitored by session attendance sheets and aerobic exercise will be monitored through a Fitbit wrist monitor. Once the 12-week intervention period has elapsed and the follow-up assessments have been completed, participants will be offered HIFT but no further data will be collected.
Sponsors
Western Sydney University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
To participate in this study, participants must: • be between the ages of 18-40 years; • have a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as per Rotterdam 2003 criteria; • be physically inactive (undertaking < 150 minutes of exercise per week or exercising < 3 days per week); • have overweight or obesity (BMI between 25 to 40 kg/m2); • able to attend three training sessions per week at F45® Bulli or Corrimal for 12 weeks; • ability to read and communicate in the English language.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded from this study if they: • have a condition for which high-intensity exercise is contraindicated (such as uncontrolled hypertension, stroke, or other cardiovascular diseases); • are pregnant or were pregnant in the last 6 months; • have type 2 diabetes; • consume more than 20g/day of alcohol; • have a rapidly progressive disease.
Outcome results
None listed