MODEL OF THE STUDY: Controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effects of 16 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training on cardiac autonomic modulation in menopausal women. METHODS: 17 menopausal women were divided into two groups: the training group (TG: n = 11) and control group (CG: n = 6). The body composition variables were estimated using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The cardiac autonomic modulation was evaluated by heart rate variability using linear indexes. The training protocol consisted of 16 weeks of 50 minutes of resistance training and 30 minutes of aerobic training. RESULTS: For the TG there was an increase in the rMSSD (ms) index (pre 17.4 +/- 3.7 and post 24.8 +/- 13.1, p < 0.045), an increase in the duration of the intervals between the cardiac beats (ms) (pre 891.2 +/- 80.2 and post 974.1 +/- 71.4, p < 0.003) and in the values of heart rate (bpm) (pre 68.1 +/- 6.4 and post 62.0 +/- 4.7, p < 0.003), additionally for the spectral indexes in normalized units, changes for LF (pre 52.2 +/- 13.1 and post 44.5 +/- 12.4, p < 0.025) and HF (pre 47.8 +/- 13.3 and post 55.5 +/- 12.4, p < 0.025) were noticed, demonstrating increased parasympathetic and reduced sympathetic. There were no significant differences to CG. CONCLUSION: Combined aerobic and resistance training promoted benefits to the autonomic modulation in menopausal women.

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