Abstract
Importance and Objective: Physical function limitations affect approximately one fifth of middle- aged women. However, correlates of these limitations are poorly understood; limited research investigates the associations between menopausal status, physical function, physical activity, and body composition, and the research available is equivocal about these associations. Methods: Using a cross-sectional approach, 107 (53.31 ± 6.14 yr) middle-aged women completed six objective assessments of physical function (transfer task, 8-foot up-and-go, 30-second chair stands, 6-minute walk test, lift and carry, and lower extremity physical function composite score) and one subjective assessment of physical function (36-Item Short Form Survey physical functioning subscale). Muscular strength was measured using handgrip dynamometry. Physical activity (average steps per day, average minutes of moderate plus vigorous physical activity per day, and average minutes of total physical activity per day) was measured via accelerometry. Body composition (percent fat and percent mineral-free lean mass) was measured with Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Women self-identified menopausal status (premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal). Discussion: Age was significantly different between menopausal status groups (p<0.05). When controlling for age and number of chronic medical conditions, no significant differences between menopausal status groups were found for any outcomes (all p>0.05). In a multiple linear regression controlling for number of chronic medical conditions, menopausal status was not significantly associated with any outcome (all p>0.05). However, age was independently associated with two outcomes: (1) transfer task time (p=0.015), explaining 11.1% of observed variability, and (2) handgrip strength (p=0.002), explaining 14.7% of observed variability. Conclusion: Middle-aged women, regardless of menopausal status, have similar body composition, physical activity levels, and physical function ability.
Highlights
A major health concern associated with aging is physical function performance
The results found by Duval (34) contrast those found by Bondarev (16) and Da Câmara (26), possibly because the latter two studies did not control for covariates that may have muted any associations between menopausal status and physical activity
This study builds on the understanding of these associations in an understudied population using both standard measures in the existing literature and measures of physical function that have not been previously tested in association with menopausal status
Summary
A major health concern associated with aging is physical function performance. Physical function performance, often referred to as “functional ability” or “physical function”, is an individual’s ability to perform basic actions involving strength, mobility, and endurance that are essential for maintaining independence and carrying out more complex activities (1). While adequate physical function ability is important at all ages, it is of particular significance for older adults. Advanced age is associated with many health issues including decreased physical function, decreased physical activity, and poorer body composition; while these are often seen as issues only impacting older adults (those 65 and older), middleage (ages 40-64) may be the time in which these factors begin to worsen (2,3,10,20–22,35). There are many gaps and little agreement in the literature regarding the associations between menopausal status and physical function (16,24–29), physical activity (16,26,34), and body composition (31,42,43) in middle-aged women. The following literature review explores the existing evidence regarding the relationships between age, menopausal status, physical function ability, body composition, and physical activity levels
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