Menopausal Symptoms, Postural Balance, and Functional Mobility in Middle-Aged Postmenopausal Women.

João Espírito Santo,Vânia Brandão-Loureiro,Fidel Hita-Contreras,Agustín Aibar-Almazán,María Leyre Lavilla-Lerma,Antonio Martínez-Amat,Nuno Eduardo Marques De Loureiro

doi:10.3390/diagnostics11122178

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the associations between the severity of the menopausal symptoms and postural balance and functional mobility in middle-aged postmenopausal women. A cross-sectional study was performed (171 participants, 57.18 ± 4.68 years). Severity of the menopausal symptoms (on the Menopause Rating Scale), postural balance (stabilometric platform) with eyes open and closed, and functional mobility (timed up and go test) were determined. A multivariate linear regression was performed, with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, age and fall history as possible confounders. Our findings showed that a greater severity of the menopausal symptoms at a psychological level was associated, under both eyes open and closed conditions, with worse postural control assessed by the length of the stabilogram (adjusted R2 = 0.093 and 0.91, respectively), the anteroposterior center of pressure displacements (adjusted R2 = 0.051 and 0.031, respectively) and the center of pressure velocity (adjusted R2 = 0.065 for both conditions). Older age was related to greater mediolateral displacements of the center of pressure with eyes open and closed (adjusted R2 = 0.45 and 0.58, respectively). There were no associations between the menopausal symptoms’ severity and functional mobility. We can conclude that a greater severity of psychological menopausal symptoms was independently associated with worse postural balance in middle-aged postmenopausal women.

Highlights

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation, confirmed after twelve consecutive months of amenorrhea
Our findings suggest that, taking into account possible confounders such as age, Body mass index (BMI), Waist to hip ratio (WHR), and the history of falls, the impact of the menopausal symptoms at a psychological level was independently associated with worse postural balance
This is in accordance with the findings described in a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted on postmenopausal women from 11 Latin American countries, their percentages were lower than those found in the present study

Summary

Introduction

Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation, confirmed after twelve consecutive months of amenorrhea. Menopause is characterized by physiological, psychosocial, and sociological changes associated with the reduction in ovarian function [1]. Menopausal symptoms include vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, physical and mental fatigue, sleep problems and urogenital symptoms such as vaginal dryness and bladder and sexual dysfunctions [2,3]. It has been shown that depression and anxiety symptoms, which are very prevalent in middle-aged women, increase during the climacteric period [4,5]. The menopause transition is associated with increased body weight and changes in body composition [6]. Estrogen decline has been linked to increased visceral fat and central adiposity [7]

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion