Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training Program in Females With Insulin Resistant Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a very common systemic disease consisting of hormone problem for women of childbearing age. Women with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens, and have many small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, acne, infertility, and weight gain. BDNF is linked with exercise and its receptors are also in ovaries. Hence, if the levels of BDNF falls below average then it plays an important role in hyperandrogenism and this often accompanied with lack of physical activity. Another factor, lipid accumulation product is closely related to glucose intolerance and wight gain which eventually gives rise to hyperandrogenism and it eventually affects the quality of life of females with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

It will be a randomized controlled trial. Convenient sampling technique would be used.

Inclusion criteria would be females of age 18-35 years, insulin resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome, pre-diagnosed, married and un married both, diabetic \& nulliparous females.

Exclusion criteria would be post pill, Inflammatory \& Adrenal PCOS, any psychological disease or disorder, any systemic disease other than PCOS (cushing syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, renal tumor, etc), Orthopedic conditions (including fracture, dislocation, etc), any surgery in past 6 months, involved in any other exercise regimen at the same time, having any specialized diet plan \& Pregnant females.

Patients enrolled in the study will be divided randomly by even odd method. (Group A=30) will be given the Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Treatment Program for 12 weeks along with their normal routine medications given to them by their gynecologist.

(Group B=30) will have the conventional treatment of only the routine medications given by their gynecologist and brisk walk plan. Assessment of variables would be taken from both groups at baseline, 12 weeks and 25 weeks of intervention. 2 ml of blood would be taken through syringe and plasma would be tested for BDNF levels through ELISA, Androgens level through Free Androgen Index and quality of Life through Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire (PCOSQ). Aerobic fitness through Canadian fitness test and VO2max. Glycated hemoglobin would be tested for glucose intolerance through HbA1c test.

Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Poly cystic ovarian syndrome, sclerocystic ovaries, aerobic fitness, aerobic exercise, supervised, hyperandrogenism, PCOS, SHBG, testosterone, Quality of life.

HYPOTHESIS:

Alternate hypothesis:

There is difference on the effects of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on serum BDNF, androgens level, menstrual irregularity and quality of life in females with insulin resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Null Hypothesis:

There is no difference on the effects of Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training Program on serum BDNF, androgens level, menstrual irregularity and quality of life in females with insulin resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome.

STUDY GROUPS:

Group 1: (Experimental Group n=30) Conventional Drugs treatment of PCOS advised by the medical specialist along with the Supervised Structured Aerobic Exercise Training program (SSAET) for 25 weeks.(29) Speed of the treadmill will be calculated and maintained at 60 to 70% of MHR in each session with progression of duration and inclination only. The intervention in experimental group would be divided into 5 phases of 5 weeks duration each.

DURATION OF EXERCISE SESSION

The patients in experimental group would be treated for a single session per day, at 3 days per week for 25 weeks. The details of each phase are given below:

Phase-1: In first phase the duration of each session would be 10 minutes and the total duration of exercise will be 30 minutes per week.

Phase-2: In the second phase the duration of a single session would be 20 minutes and duration21 of exercise per week will be 60 minutes.

Phase-3: In the third phase the duration of a single session would be 30 minutes and the total duration of exercise per week will be 90 minutes.

Phase-4: In the fourth phase the duration of each phase would be 40 minutes and the total duration of exercise per week will be 120 minutes.

Phase-5: In the last phase and final phase the duration of a single session would be 50 minutes and the total duration of exercise will be 150 minutes per week, as recommended by the American heart Association (AHA).

INCLINATION OF TREADMILL WALKING RAMP WITH GROUND (30) Phase-1: Normal Phase-2: 3 degrees Phase-3: 6 degrees Phase-4: 9 degrees Phase-5: 12 degrees Intensity of progression would be measured by the subject's Borgs rate of perceived exertion (RPE) according to the 15-point Borg Scale as per individual load.

Warm up and cool down protocol:

1. Without treadmill: warm up protocol involves breathing exercises, Stretching exercises (pectoralis major, triceps, biceps, hamstrings \& calf stretch) and cool down exercises as ankle-toe movements of 5-10 min duration.
2. On tread mill: the warming-up phase, which consisted in walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes at low intensity (30% of MHR), at a 0% slope before the actual phase, and the cooling phase, which consist of in walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes at low intensity (30% of MHR) at 0% slope in each session. The MHR would be calculated according to the equation (HR= 220-age).

Group 2: (Control Group n=30) Conventional Drugs treatment of PCOS advised by the medical specialist along with the simple sustained brisk walk advised at a self-selected brisk pace described as "faster than normal walking but a pace that could be sustained for at least 20 min." Subjects would be instructed to complete at least three walks per week, each walk of 20 to 60 min duration.

TOOLS:

1. Modified polycystic ovarian syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire (MPCOSQ)- Quality of life
2. MIQ (Menstrual Irregularity Questionnaire)- Menstrual irregularity
3. Women's weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters- BMI
4. Aerobic fitness- I. Canadian home fitness test, bench test from 8cm for 3 min II. Indirect estimation of VO2 max by formula VO2 max (walking) = (0.2 x speed of treadmill) + (0.9 x speed x treadmill grade) + 3.5
5. BDNF levels- ELISA
6. Androgens level- Serum SHBG will be measured by coated-tube immunoradiometric assay using commercial kits. Testosterone will be measured by RIA using commercial enzymatic kits. Free androgen index (FAI) will be calculated as testosterone/SHBG × 100. Clinical hyperandrogenism (a score of 6 or higher on the modified Ferriman-Gallwey scale)
7. Mental health- (Stress, depression \& Anxiety) by DASS
8. Lipid Accumulation Product -Triglycerides test and waist circumference The LAP would be calculated as [waist circumference (centimeters) - 58] × [triglycerides (millimoles per liter)]
9. Glycemic control-HbA1c levels (Pre-diabetic condition as HbA1c 5.7-6.4% according to American Diabetic Association)