title: The relationship between health-related fitness and quality of life in postmenopausal women from Southern Taiwan.
abstract: 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]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan ; Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan ; Department of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Hsiu
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-lung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Liang Tseng
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Sports Medicine Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chia Yi, Chia Yi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Robert Wen-Wei
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: back strength; health related fitness; postmenopausal women; quality of life