Menopause related symptoms modify quality of life and may also have an impact on work ability.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on work ability and daily strain among women with menopausal symptoms.Occupationally active symptomatic menopausal women (n=123) were randomized into 24-week aerobic exercise intervention and control groups. Mobile phone questionnaires were used to collect daily data on perceived physical and mental strain in a randomised and controlled setting. Work ability was measured with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and with questions about work strain.In all 123 women aged 44-62 (mean age 53.8 ± 3.4) years who worked full- or part-time participated in the study. Women were randomized into a control (n=60) and intervention group (n=63). The subjects were mostly working in mentally demanding jobs (e.g., office worker), but also in physical (e.g., cleaner) and mixed (physical and mental) jobs (e.g., nurse).The increase in mental resources and decrease in physical strain from baseline to end were statistically significantly greater among the intervention group than among the control group. Between-group differences in the change in WAI were, however, statistically non-significant.A 6-month physical exercise intervention among symptomatic menopausal women seems not to be enough to increase perceived work ability but the physical exercise may increase perceived mental resources and decrease perceived daily physical strain.}
Purpose Physical activity is a key to independent functional ability among older adults but few interventions have been conducted in assisted‑living residences. A pedometer has been stated to be ‘a good-enough’ measuring device for the assessment of walking activity in older populations. Research has, however, focused more on community dwelling older adults than on those residing in assisted-living facilities. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a pedometer‑based walking program in an assisted-living facility, and to explore the challenges and obstacles for the implementation of such a program. Materials and methods A pilot intervention study was done with 8 residents between 68 and 89 years of age residing in one assisted‑living facility in Finland. The participants were given pedometers and were asked to walk as usual for a period of one week in order to measure the baseline number of steps. Then, personal goals were assessed based on these baseline figures. Motivational materials and meetings with the participants and attendant nurses were also provided. Participants were encouraged to increase their daily number of steps from their baseline levels by 5% weekly for a period of 6 weeks. Post intervention, seven of the participants and their nurses (n=13) filled in questionnaires concerning the use and usability of the pedometer. Results At baseline, the median number of steps taken by the participants was 800 per day, the daily average being 1369. Post intervention the median was 884 and daily average 1458 steps, demonstrating an increase but no statistically significant changes in the number of steps. Most of the nurses (9/13) believed the pedometer actually encouraged the residents to walk more, but because of technical difficulties, fewer nurses (5/13) found the pedometer to be useful in practice in terms of encouragement for more activity. The participants and nurses found the pedometer easy to use but reported problems with it falling off, underestimating step counts, and inaccuracy. Conclusion Motivating sedentary older adults living in an assisted‑living facility to walk more by employing a pedometer-based walking program is possible but challenging. Integrating the program into daily routines and systematic communication between the research team and the staff of the participating site are needed in order to support the adoption and sustained usage of the new technology. The accuracy and reliability of the pedometer need improvement in terms of use by people with shuffling and low-impact gaits. Better clips to prevent dislodging as well as easier to read numbers are also recommended. Overall, the findings from this study suggest that there is a need for improved pedometer technology to be used with older adults residing in assisted-living residences.
Objectives The aim of the study was to explore the long-term effects of physical activity intervention on quality of life (QoL) 4 years after an original randomised controlled trial (RCT). Design Cohort study after an RCT. Setting 95 of the 159 women from the original RCT participated in weight, height and waist circumference measurements, performed the UKK 2 km Walk Test and completed the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire. Multilevel mixed regression models were performed in order to compare the original and current group in an RCT setting. Participants There were 159 participants in the original RCT; 2.5 years later, 102 of the women responded to a questionnaire and 4-year after the trial, there were 95 respondents. The inclusion criteria in the original RCT were: being symptomatic, experiencing daily hot flushes, age between 40 and 63 years, not using hormone therapy now or in the past 3 months, sedentary lifestyle and having last menstruated 3–36 months earlier. Main outcome measure Health-related QoL as measured with the SF-36 instrument. Results Women in the intervention group had a significantly higher probability of improved physical functioning (OR 1.41; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.99) as compared with women in the control group. In addition, women in the intervention group had higher odds of good role functioning (OR 1.21; 95% CI 0.88 to 1.67), physical health (OR 1.33; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.84) and general health (OR 1.14; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.62), relative to women in the control group, although the differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions Women in the intervention group showed positive long-term effects on physical and mental dimensions of QoL after 4 years. Trial registration number ISRCTN54690027.
Physical exercise during leisure time is known to increase physical capacity; however, the long-term effects on work ability and work strain are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-month physical exercise program on work ability and work strain after 6 months and 30 months, among women with menopausal symptoms at baseline.A questionnaire including questions on work ability and work strain was mailed in the beginning, at 6 months and after 30 months after the intervention to occupationally active women participating in a randomized controlled study on physical exercise and quality of life. The intervention included aerobic exercise training 4 times per week, 50 minutes per session. Work ability was measured with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and with questions about physical and mental work strain.Women aged 47-62 years (N = 89) who were occupationally active at baseline were included in the analyses. The increase in WAI from baseline to the end of the exercise intervention (6 months) was statistically significantly greater among the intervention group than among the control group (regression coefficient 2.08; 95% confidence interval 0.71-3.46). The difference between the groups persisted for 30 months. No significant short- or long-term effects on physical and mental work strain were found.A 6-month physical exercise intervention among symptomatic menopausal women had positive short-term as well as long-term effects on work ability.
