Initiation of HT soon after menopause rapidly improved postural balance to levels normally seen in young women. We suggest that improved postural balance can contribute to the protection against fractures associated with HT and explain the more substantial reduction in hip fracture risk after HT initiated sooner, compared with later, after menopause. Further study is required to confirm these results.

The purposes of this study were to develop methods for measuring maximal isometric grip strength during short and sustained contractions in a laboratory setting, and to evaluate the test-retest reliability of these methods in short- and long-term perspectives. Eleven healthy men and women were assessed on four occasions. Maximal voluntary isometric grip strength (MVC) was measured in standardized and optional positions, and sustained maximal isometric strength (SMVC) in the standardized position. The results indicated that three trials in a session might be insufficient to obtain a true measure of MVC. The within-session and test-retest reliability of the described multi-trial procedure was considered satisfactory. The mean score of the last three trials tended to show the highest short-term and long-term variability. There were no clear differences between scores obtained in standardized and optional positions. The standardized position seemed more consistently to yield higher test-retest reliability and lower variability over time. The described method for measuring SMVC, expressed as area and peak score, had high test-retest reliability and an acceptable degree of short-term and long-term variability. The time taken to reach the peak score was not a reliable measure.

It can not be concluded that HRT had a positive effect on the performance in the functional balance tests, as some improvement occurred in both groups. The low correlations indicate that the sway velocity and functional balance tests measure different aspects of balance function.

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