Performance in functional balance tests during menopausal hormone replacement: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that oestrogens might have an effect on postural control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on postural control in menopausal women and to analyse the correlation between sway velocity measures and results of functional balance tests. 100 menopausal women who were randomized to receive either HRT or placebo for three months were included in the study. The balance function was measured with nine different static and dynamic functional balance tests. The sway velocities were measured on a computerized force platform. No significant differences were found between the two groups in the results of the functional balance tests after the three-month placebo-controlled period or in the changes over time. However, some significant improvements occurred within both groups over this three-month period. The correlations between different sway velocities and the results of the functional balance tests were all very low (r < 0.35). 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.