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Menopausal women and their physical activity

02/11/2023
Leen Broeckx Panelmanager

Working closely with Thomas More's Motion Lab, Dr. Oonagh Giggins of NetwellCASALA conducted physical tests on 10 menopausal-age women for her research on physical activity at this stage of life.

Through the TA program, the VITALISE project is opening up 17 research infrastructures in seven countries to outside researchers so they can conduct their research free of charge. Applicants for transnational access can work on their own projects or on one of the research areas defined in VITALISE, namely rehabilitation, transition from hospital to home and the daily living environment.

LiCalab issued a call for women between the ages of 40 and 64 who are in or around the menopausal phase and who have muscle and/or joint complaints. We collaborated with Mobilab & Care colleagues in their Motion Lab (measurement lab) specializing in gait analysis, among other things. Together with Dr. Oonagh Giggins, we did a gait analysis, measured balance and stability, physical activity and grip strength. Participants were given a smartwatch to take home that tracks their movement and sleep patterns until January 2024.

Oonagh is analyzing this data and investigating whether menopause is associated with an accelerated decline in physical function and activity and whether there is an increase in joint and/or muscle problems. At a later stage, interventions will be developed that may impact the aforementioned factors.

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