Please cite this article in press as: Teixeira BC, et al. Strength training enhances endothelial and muscular function in postmenopausal women. Sci sports (2018), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2018.09.006 ARTICLE IN PRESS +Model SCISPO-3265; No. of Pages 8 Science & Sports (2018) xxx, xxx—xxx Disponible en ligne sur ScienceDirect www.sciencedirect.com ORIGINAL ARTICLE Strength training enhances endothelial and muscular function in postmenopausal women La musculation améliore la fonction endothéliale et musculaire chez les femmes ménopausées B.C. Teixeira a,* , F.P. Boeno a,b , C.V. Siqueira b , E.L. Cadore b , J.L. Ribeiro c , A. Reischak-Oliveira b , G. dos Santos Cunha b a Integrated Regional University of Upper Uruguay and Mission, AV. Venâncio Aires, José Bonifácio, 3149, 97800000 São Luiz Gonzaga, Brazil b Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Physical Education, Porto Alegre, Brazil c Instituto Metodista Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil Received 8 May 2018; accepted 11 September 2018 KEYWORDS Resistance training; Endothelium; Vasodilation and postmenopause Summary Objectives. — The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sixteen weeks of strength training on forearm blood flow (FBF) and nitric oxide (NO) production at rest induced by exercise in postmenopausal women. Equipment and methods. — Twenty postmenopausal sedentary women 60 ± 5 years participated in this study. The volunteers were randomly assigned into two groups: The trained group (TG, n = 10), performed 3 sessions of approximately 1 hour of strength exercise per week during 16 weeks, and the control group (CG, n = 10), did not perform the systematic physical activity. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous plethysmography and the measurements of nitric oxide production by Griess assay. The measurements were performed before and after training with subjects at rest and undergoing a protocol of handgrip. Results. — After strength training TG increased significantly FBF values after exer- cise (3.98 ± 1.81 vs. 2.37 ± 1.03 ml.100 ml -1 .min -1 ; P < 0.05), and the post-exercise val- ues were greater than post-exercise values observed before training (3.98 ± 1.81 vs. 2.74 ± 0.61 ml.100 ml -1 .min -1 ; P < 0.05) and there was a significant decrease in plasma ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail address: brunoct100@hotmail.com (B.C. Teixeira). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2018.09.006 0765-1597/© 2018 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.