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Effect of Brisk Walking in 1 or 2 Daily Bouts and Moderate Resistance Training on Lower-Extremity Muscle Strength, Balance, and Walking Performance in Women Who Recently Went Through Menopause: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

TM Asikainen, MD, is Physician, Department of Occupational Health, Satakunta Central Hospital, Pori, Finland. At the time of the study, Dr Asikainen was Researcher, The President Urho Kaleva Kekkonen Institute for Health Promotion Research (UKK Institute), Tampere, Finland
JH Suni, PT, PhD, is the Senior Researcher, Director of Research Department, UKK Institute
ME Pasanen, MSc, is Statistician, UKK Institute
P Oja, PhD, is former Director of Research Department, UKK Institute
MB Rinne, MSc, is Researcher, UKK Institute
SI Miilunpalo, MD, is Chief Physician, Kiipula Foundation, Rehabilitation Centre, Finland, and a docent, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Finland
CHA Nygård, PhD, is Professor, Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere
IM Vuori, MD, PhD, is Professor Emeritus, University of Tampere, and former Director, UKK Institute

(tm.asikainen{at}sci.fi) Address all correspondence to Dr Asikainen at Satakunta Central Hospital, Sairaalantie 3, FIN-28500 Pori, Finland

Background and Purpose. Menopause may induce a phase of rapid decreases in bone mineral density, aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and balance, especially in sedentary women. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and feasibility of an exercise program of 1 or 2 bouts of walking and resistance training on lower-extremity muscle strength (the force-generating capacity of muscle), balance, and walking performance in women who recently went through menopause. Subjects and Methods. The subjects were 134 women who recently went through menopause. The study was a 15-week, randomized, controlled trial with continuous and fractionated exercise groups. The outcomes assessed were lower-extremity muscle strength, balance, and walking time over 2 km. Feasibility was assessed by questionnaires, interviews, and training logs. Results. One hundred twenty-eight women completed the study. Adherence to the study protocol was 92%. Both continuous and fractionated exercise groups improved equally in lower-extremity muscle strength and walking time but not in balance. Almost 70% of the subjects considered the program to be feasible. Two daily walking sessions caused fewer lower-extremity problems than did continuous walking. Discussion and Conclusion. Brisk walking combined with moderate resistance training is feasible and effective. Fractionating the walking into 2 daily sessions is more feasible than continuous walking.

Key Words: Balance • Muscle strength • Postmenopause • Randomized controlled trial • Walking

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