Preliminary Study: Physiological Responses to a Single Bout of Nordic Walking Exercise in Patients with Pre-hypertensive Post-menopausal Women

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 2, 160 - 169, 29.08.2025

Emine Kılıç Toprak , Ebru Tekin , Yalın Tolga Yaylalı , Fatma Ünver , Ayşegül Çört , Melek Bor-küçükatay

https://doi.org/10.26650/experimed.1582395

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly among post-menopausal women who face heightened risk. Exercise is recognized for its preventive benefits on cardiovascular health and enhancement of vascular function; yet, the effects of various exer cise modalities remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to assess alterations in erythrocyte deformability, total oxidant/antioxidant status (TOS/TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), and serum levels of leptin and irisin in pre-hypertensive post-menopausal women following one session of Nordic walking (NW) exercise.

Materials and Methods: The study cohort comprised 11 post-menopausal women with pre-hypertension (mean age 57.91 ± 7.23 years) and 12 age-matched healthy women (mean age 55.17 ± 5.29 years). Venous blood was taken before and just after the exercise session. The deformability of red blood cells (RBCs) was assessed using an ektacytometer. TOS/TAS, irisin, and leptin were quantified using commercial assays.

Results: A session of NW exercise did not influence oxidative stress indices or blood levels of irisin and leptin; nevertheless, erythrocyte deformability assessed at 30.00 Pa significantly increased post-exercise (p=0.043).

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that enhanced RBC deformability after an acute session of NW may facilitate blood flow.

Keywords

Red blood cell deformability , Nordic walking exercise , Oxidative stress , Irisin and Leptin

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the latest revision of the Declaration of Helsinki and the approved Pamukkale Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (E-60116787-020/5756). All participants were informed about the study and tests and their written consent was obtained.

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. This study was supported by Pamukkale University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit through project number 2017HZDP028

Project Number

2017HZDP028

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