Year: 2025 | Month: April | Volume: 15 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 18-24
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250403
Comparison of Lower Extremity Strength and Balance Among Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Meghana Garg1, Dr. Gira Thakrar2
11st Year MPT Student, 2PhD, Senior Lecturer,
JG College Of Physiotherapy, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India.
Corresponding Author: Meghana Garg
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Menopause is the permanent end of menstruation caused by the loss of ovarian follicular function. It occurs due to a natural decline in estrogen and progesterone production, leading to various symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, physical discomfort and urogenital issues. Beyond these effects, menopause also impacts balance and increases the risk of falls, highlighting the need for preventive measures to maintain stability and overall well-being.
OBJECTIVE: To compare lower limb strength and balance among premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 female participants in the age group of 40-60 years, were divided into 30 premenopausal and 30 postmenopausal group based upon the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The lower limb strength (30sec sit to stand test) and balance (static: one leg stand-eye open and close, dynamic: four square step test) were measured respectively.
RESULT: As the data was not normally distributed, intergroup comparison was done using Mann-Whitney U test. The result revealed that there was significant difference in lower limb strength (mean±SD) premenopausal:18.3±2.05 postmenopausal:11.7±2.93 and balance (static-one leg stand- eye open-premenopausal: 22.36±3.97 postmenopausal: 16.81±2.04 eye close-premenopausal: 20.57±2.67 postmenopausal: 14.14±2.67) (dynamic-four square step test-premenopausal:10.06±2.47 postmenopausal:15.98±3.09) among postmenopausal women(p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: There is a reduction of lower limb strength and balance among postmenopausal women.
Key words: Lower limb strength, balance, premenopausal women, postmenopausal women