Correlation of Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Life with Physical Performance in Middle-Aged Women

Abstract

Introduction Some studies have investigated the influence of hormonal deficits and menopausal status in muscle disorders of women. However, it has not been investigated the relationship of both climacteric symptoms and the perception of quality of life with physical performance. Objective To evaluate the correlation of menopausal symptoms and quality of life with physical performance in middle-aged women. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed from April to November 2013 in the municipality of Parnamirim, in the Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Norte. The sample was composed of 497 women aged 40-65 years. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) questionnaire were used to evaluate menopausal symptoms and quality of life respectively. Measures of physical performance included handgrip strength, knee extensor and flexor strengths (using an isometric dynamometer), gait speed, and chair stand test. The correlation between menopausal symptoms and quality of life with physical performance was assessed by Pearson's correlation coefficient with significance set at p < 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%. Results There was a significant negative correlation between handgrip strength and somatic MRS score (p = 0.002) and total MRS score (p = 0.03). There was a significant correlation between knee flexor strength and sit-to-stand time and all menopausal symptom areas (p < 0.05), except psychological symptoms. There was a positive correlation between physical performance of the knee flexors and quality of life items including occupational (p = 0.001), emotional (p = 0.005), and total UQOL (p = 0.01), but a negative correlation with sit-to-stand time and all quality of life domains (p < 0.05). Conclusion A greater intensity of menopausal symptoms and worse quality of life were related with worse physical performance. Thus, preventive measures should be implemented to avoid adverse effects on physical performance at more advanced ages.

Response of Gait Output and Handgrip Strength to Changes in Body Fat Mass in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

“…The findings of this study may be different from other studies, and may be explained by differences in the method of gait assessment, because other studies have used the slower walk-time of 2 attempts to calculate gait speed (in meters per second) in the usual steps, over a distance of 4 m 51 . However, it is not plausible that an individual’s gait will be fully expressed over such a short distance, which informed the use of a 10-m distance for gait assessment in this study.…”

“…However, it is not plausible that an individual’s gait will be fully expressed over such a short distance, which informed the use of a 10-m distance for gait assessment in this study. In addition, this study used the average or mean value of stride and time required to cover the 10-m distance in 2 trials to determine the velocity and speed of walking, unlike several studies already described, 51 which used the slower time of 2 attempts to determine the speed of walking. The mean value should be more representative of the gait characteristics of the participants.…”

Association between self-rated health and physical performance in middle-aged and older women from Northeast Brazil

“…Menopause is associated with reductions in means of physical performance tests such as grip strength (Câmara et al, 2015a). This reduction in physical performance can affect individuals' social roles, since during this phase, women must adapt to psycho-affective and socio-cultural changes that may have repercussions on health status and quality of life (Silva et al, 2016). Those symptoms can discourage women and reduce their overall activities, resulting in poorer physical performance and their overall health assessment, which may explain the significant association between SRH and all physical performance measures for this group.…”

“…Intraclass correlation coefficients (two-way mixed effects, absolute agreement, single measurement) showed that the three attempts were highly correlated (ICC = 0.883; 95% CI [0.848-0.908]; p < 0.001). The mean of the three trials was used in analyses (Silva et al, 2016;Câmara et al, 2015aCâmara et al, , 2015b. b) Balance test: This test is used to identify whether a balance problem exists and to determine its underlying cause (Mancine & Horak, 2010).…”

“…During this phase of life, important changes occur in women. For example, muscle mass tends to decrease gradually after the third decade of age and declines at an accelerated rate after the fifth decade, a time in life that correlates with the onset of menopause (Silva et al, 2016). If middle-aged women reporting poor health status also present worse physical function, the evaluation of SRH may help to identify earlier those with higher risk of subsequent disability.…”