title: Effect of continuous passive motion (machine-assisted) exercise as an alternative form of training on physiological profiles of women aged 40-65 years.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of 16 weeks of continuous passive motion (CPM) or machine-assisted exercise as an alternative form of training on body composition, muscle strength, and flexibility in women aged 40-65 years. Thirty-one exercisers and 8 controls completed 16 weeks of training, with the exercisers averaging 3 sessions per week. Six toning tables targeted different muscle groups by moving the body and/or limbs while subjects attempted to resist the movements. Body composition was assessed by individual measures (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, hydrodensitometry, and bioelectric impedance) and a 4-compartment model, flexibility was assessed by a Leighton flexometer and the sit and reach procedure, and strength was measured by standard 1 repetition maximum procedures before training began, after 5 weeks of training, and after 16 weeks of training. When the 2 groups were compared after week 5 and week 16 of training, few significant (p < 0.05) group by trial differences were noted; however, these differences were minimal and represented little or no practical significance (very low effect sizes). In conclusion, CPM training did not appear to provide a sufficient stimulus to significantly alter measures of strength, flexibility, or body composition in women aged 40-65 years.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, USA.
authors.forename: Susan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Debra A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bemben
authors.forename: Allen W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Knehans
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bemben
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D018583:Pliability; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States