[The climacteric and physical exercise: the experience of 6 health centers of the Community of Valencia].
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether physical exercise improves the functional motor capacity of menopausal women who practise it.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Six Health Centres in the province of Valencia.


METHODS
226 menopausal women.


METHODS
Assessment of a functional motor capacity test at the start and at 6 and 12 months with two groups of menopausal women, one in a Physical Exercise programme and the other not.


RESULTS
Variation of functional capacity over time was measured and the number of women who improved, equalled or diminished their capacity was obtained, both for the group doing physical exercise and the group not doing it. At the six-month assessment, the percentage of women who did physical exercise and improved their functional motor capacity (64.71%) was significantly higher (p = 0.025) than those who didn't exercise and improved this capacity (45.45%). The differences at twelve months were much more significant (p = 0.0079), with percentages of 61.99% and 38.18% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Menopausal women who practise appropriate and controlled physical exercise improve their functional motor capacity more than those who do not.
Flores Alvarez
J C
JC
Centro de Salud de Monóvar, Alicante.
Chulvi Alabort
V
V
D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002979:Climacteric / Q000502:physiology*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors