This was a randomized experimental trial with a control group. Postmenopausal women were randomly allocated by means of a random number table to one of two groups. Forty women in the first group were included into the 8-week aerobic exercise program and 40 women in the second group formed the non-exercise control group. The women in second group continued to take HRT and were not included in any exercise program.
Demographic characteristics were recorded. Quality of life was evaluated after 8 weeks in both groups.
Quality of life was evaluated by using the Nottingham Health profile (NPH). The NPH consisted of 38 yes/no items about health systems. Six different sub-sections of NPH included different numbers of questions with different scoring (physical mobility,[8] pain,[8] sleep,[5] energy,[3] social isolation[5] and emotional reactions[9]). Each sub-section's maximum cumulative score total should be 100 (worst health) and minimum 0 (best health). There was no summary score.[17]
The subjects were included in the exercise program for 8-week period with the frequency of 5 times a week. The program started with warming-up exercises consisting of stretching exercises and the 5-min low-intensity walking; warming-up exercises were followed by a program starting with 20 min and increasing up to 40 min at the end of 8 weeks. This program included the exercise detailed below: Bicycle for lower extremity endurance training for 5 to 15 min; exercise on the step board for lower extremity endurance for 2 to 6 min; posture exercises across a mirror for neck and back muscles (10 times); strengthening exercises with isoflex bands; free weights for back and abdominal muscles, pectoral, scapular muscles, and for upper-lower extremity muscles; balance exercise with trampoline for balance training; and flexibility exercise for pectoral, hamstring, gastro-cnemius-soleus, and back muscles.
The exercise program was completed with cooling exercises consisting of 5-min low-intensity walk on the treadmill. The exercise program with sub-maximal intensity was applied to the cases and a Borg scale was used in determining the intensity of the exercise. Exercise intensity was regulated by progressively increasing the repeating number, duration and endurance amounts of the exercises with the Borg scale follow-up.[18]