The relationship between health-related fitness and quality of life in postmenopausal women from Southern Taiwan

Clinical Interventions in Aging The relationship between health-related fitness and quality of life in postmenopausal women from southern Taiwan Wei-hsiu hsu 2 Chi-lung Chen 1 Chun-hao Fan 2 0 Department of Medicine, Chang g ung University , Tao Yuan , Taiwan 1 Division of s ports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic surgery, Chang g ung Memorial h ospital at Chia Yi , Chia Yi , Taiwan 2 s ports Medicine Center, Chang g ung Memorial h ospital at Chia Yi , Chia Yi , Taiwan PowerdbyTCPDF(ww.tcpdf.org) liang Tseng Kuo 2 Mel s lee 2 robert Wen-Wei hsu 2 Background: Health-related fitness has been reported to be associated with improved quality of life (QoL) in the elderly. Health-related fitness is comprised of several dimensions that could be enhanced by specific training regimens. It has remained unclear how various dimensions of health-related fitness interact with QoL in postmenopausal women. Objective: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of health-related fitness and QoL in elderly women. Methods: A cohort of 408 postmenopausal women in a rural area of Taiwan was prospectively collected. Dimensions of health-related fitness, consisting of muscular strength, balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, muscle endurance, and agility, were assessed. QoL was determined using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Differences between age groups (stratified by decades) were calculated using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons using a Scheffé test. A Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to examine differences between QoL and each dimension of fitness. Multiple linear regression with forced-entry procedure was performed to evaluate the effects of health-related fitness. A P-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Age-related decreases in health-related fitness were shown for sit-ups, back strength, grip strength, side steps, trunk extension, and agility (P0.05). An age-related decrease in QoL, specifically in physical functioning, role limitation due to physical problems, and physical component score, was also demonstrated (P0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that back strength significantly contributed to the physical component of QoL (adjusted beta of 0.268 [P0.05]). Conclusion: Back strength was positively correlated with the physical component of QoL among the examined dimensions of health-related fitness. Health-related fitness, as well as the physical component of QoL, declined with increasing age. postmenopausal women; health related fitness; back strength; quality of life - open access to scientific and medical research Introduction Aging is often associated with functional limitations and disability. The aging process is typically characterized by a loss of muscular strength, reduction in joint mobility, reduction in cardiovascular capacity, and a decline in cognitive capacity.1 These physiological changes become more pronounced in postmenopausal women due to the development of osteoporosis and sarcopenia.2–4 These age-related declines can be assessed using health-related measures of fitness.5,6 Health-related fitness comprises several dimensions, including body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscle endurance, agility, balance, and flexibility.5,7 Each dimension can be enhanced by using specific training regimens.8–13 8 1 0 2 l u J 3 1 n o 7 0 2 . 6 4 . 9 5 . 7 3 y b / m o c . s s e r Health-related quality of life (QoL) has been used to assess the overall status of patients; QoL has also been shown to be negatively correlated with age.14,15 Specifically, scores on physical functioning, physical role limitation, general health, and social functioning have been shown to decrease significantly with age in postmenopausal women.16 An inferior self-perceived QoL is associated with poor exercise adherence, which has been proposed to further jeopardize health-related fitness.17 Regular physical activity and/or exercise training programs are beneficial in minimizing the physiological alterations that occur with aging and contribute to improvements in overall health and well-being.18,19 It remains unclear how the various dimensions of health-related fitness are associated with QoL in postmenopausal women. Understanding which dimensions of health-related fitness impact QoL in the elderly could have significant implications in the prescription of exercise in this population, since different .vdoepww l.syeonu sdpimeceinfiscioenxseorfchiseealttrha-irneilnagtedprfoitgnreasms sc.a8n–13b,1e9–e2n3hTahnecepdurupsoinsge Materials and methods Participants A total of 408 postmenopausal women from Chia Yi area and Yunlin County of Taiwan were enrolled in the current investigation between August 2010 and December 2012. Postmenopausal women were defined as having had no menstruation in the previous 12 months.24,25 The inclusion criteria of this (...truncated)