Strength Rx & Menopause: Episode 111 with Chloe Lewis

Hello & Welcome to the CelebrateMuliebrity Podcast!

Today's episode is all about strength & resistance training at menopause - why are only 30% of women engaging in resistance training at menopause?

(and sorry, my sound is a bit wonky at the start)

My guest today is Chloe Lewis, who had a non-linear career into women's health, to say the least!

Chloe is a physiotherapist conducting PhD research on optimising resistance training at menopause while incorporating pelvic health concerns and tendon issues. Chloe shared her personal journey into physiotherapy after experiencing a heart condition that led to heart surgery

We discussed how menopausal women face barriers to resistance training due to generational messaging about smaller bodies and fear of bulking up.

We explored how resistance training can benefit bone health, muscle maintenance, and mental well-being, while addressing specific concerns about tendinopathy in areas like the rotator cuff and gluteals.

Chloe explained her research approach, which includes studying barriers to resistance training in menopausal women and potentially examining how effective resistance training protocols might impact pelvic floor strength.

This conversation emphasised the importance of individualised approaches, starting with bodyweight exercises, and the need for healthcare professionals to prescribe resistance training as part of rehabilitation programs for women.

We also discussed the similarities and differences in resistance training protocols for men and women, emphasising that proportionate muscle growth is similar despite men starting with more muscle mass. Chloe highlighted that social context and barriers, rather than physiological differences, are the main obstacles for women engaging in resistance training.

We definitely agreed on the importance of understanding and addressing these barriers to encourage women's participation in resistance training....and much much more, including her PhD research focusing on the impact of resistance training on pelvic floor health in menopausal women. She plans to conduct a four-armed study comparing the effects of resistance training alone, resistance training plus pelvic floor exercises, pelvic floor exercises alone, and a control group. Chloe is currently in the ethics approval stage for qualitative interviews with menopausal women and plans to survey healthcare professionals about resistance training practices for menopause. She aims to develop a co-produced exercise program that is accessible and relevant to the participants - I can't wait to see the outcomes!

If you'd like to learn more about menopausal health, be sure to check out my comprehensive online course, 'Flourish! The Menopausal Toolbox (which also includes access to my Hysterectomy: Prehab to Rehab course FOR FREE!). All the info on all of my online courses, from menstrual, to perinatal to oncology, bowel or back pain courses can be found at CelebrateMuliebrity.com

Until next time, Onwards & Upwards! Mx