Initial findings of study show Pvolve's functional fitness method measurably improves strength, balance, and flexibility in women 40+

Pvolve, the omnichannel fitness company with an innovative, science-led method that pairs functional movement with proprietary resistance equipment, today announced the initial findings of a clinical study to investigate and compare Pvolve’s low-impact, resistance-based workouts against standard fitness routines in women 40+. The Healthy Aging Study, conducted by Professor Francis Stephens’ research group at the University of Exeter, a leading university in research of sports medicine and sports science, aimed to address the gap in women’s health research by comparing the Pvolve Method to standard exercise and its impact on women in the 40-60 age demographic.

While women make up a large portion of the $100 billion global fitness market, they have historically been underrepresented in consumer research. A recent study looking at the sex data gap in clinical research found that in medical studies published between 2014 and 2022, women made up only 34% of participants, and when it came to sports science, only 6% of studies have focused on women1. In its Healthy Aging Study, Pvolve specifically addressed the physiological changes in aging women and the need to provide them with tailored exercise programs. The limited fitness options for women 40+ represent both a missed commercial opportunity, given their substantial spending power and the enduring desire to stay fit and healthy as they age, and a societal issue as the population of older adults is projected to outnumber that of children under ten by 20302.

Beginning in their late 30s, women experience a 3-8% decline in lean muscle mass per decade, and yet most workouts are not designed to address these rapid changes in their bodies. Culture has historically emphasized high-impact routines and cardio-based workouts. However, an effective exercise routine for women over 40 should include a combination of strength training with heavy weights to boost metabolism, short cardio circuits for brain, heart, and bone health, and resistance-based training that focuses on balance, mobility, coordination, and stability to mitigate common age-related changes such as loss of strength and risk of falls. When engaged in a workout like Pvolve’s functional approach, the University of Exeter observed that women can experience many benefits.

Initial findings from the Healthy Aging Study’s 12-week clinical trial showcase the effectiveness of the Pvolve Method for improving muscle function, strength, body composition, and quality of life in women 40-60 throughout various phases of menopause. Among its impressive outcomes, the women in the study reported experiencing a 19% increase in hip and lower body strength and a 21% increase in full-body flexibility after adopting consistent exercise routines through Pvolve’s method.

The research also indicates that Pvolve’s low-impact, resistance-based method may influence other parts of whole body health, including lower blood lipids, improved lean muscle without increasing total body mass, improved hip function and lower body strength, and balance, mobility, and stability. These early but groundbreaking findings are increasingly important for women as they age because they can help offset the natural age-related physiological changes women experience, such as loss of lean muscle mass.

Summary of results:

Researchers found participants3 who consistently engaged in the Pvolve Method compared to a standard exercise routine4 noticed:

Improvements in:

• Hip function and lower body strength (+19%)5
• Full-body flexibility (+21%)6
• Balance, mobility, and stability (+10%)7
• Overall quality of life (+7.2%) and lower fatigue (+23%)8

Positive health results:

• Increase in lean muscle without increasing total body mass9
• Lower blood lipids10

The Healthy Aging study was conducted by the University of Exeter, which recruited 72 women aged 40-60 years old. Test subjects followed either Pvolve’s program or standard physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise per week. Participants were monitored through 12 weeks and assessed by objective measures for strength, muscle function, balance, mobility, flexibility, body composition, and blood health markers. Subjects were also assessed by validated subjective measures for quality of life and enjoyment of exercise.