Relationship of age to changes in muscle strength, trunk endurance, functional status and health profile in women of reproductive age

ABSTRACT Relationship of Age to Changes in Muscle Strength, Trunk Endurance, Functional Status and Health Profile in Women of Reproductive Age Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between age and changes in muscle strength, trunk endurance, functional status and health profile in women between the ages of 15-49. Material and Method: The study included 114 women of reproductive age. Women were divided into three groups according to their age range. Group I was designed as women aged 15-24, group II as women aged 25-39, and group III as women aged 40-49. The sociodemographic information of the women was questioned with a descriptive questionnaire. Participants grip strength was evaluated with a hand dynamometer, trunk endurance with the McGill trunk endurance test, functional status with timed up and go, single leg stance, 30 s chair stance and functional reach test, and health profile with the Nottingham Health Profile scale. Results: There were significant differences between age groups in flexor trunk endurance, single leg stance and functional reach, pain and physical activity subparameters of the health profile (p<0.05). A low level negative correlation was found between age and single leg stance, flexor endurance, functional reach measurements; and a low level positive correlation was found between pain and physical activity parameters of the health profile (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that age can affect trunk flexor endurance, functional status related to static and dynamic balance, pain and physical activity limitation. We believe that these results will shed light on follow-up and intervention studies to be conducted on the subject. Keywords: Age, Functional status, Health profile, Muscle strength, Trunk endurance