Year: 2026 | Month: November | Volume: 16 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 45-55
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20261106
Association Between Severity of Menopausal Symptoms, Core Strength and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Perimenopausal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Sanika Mujumdar1, Jyoti Parle2
1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Physiotherapy, The SIA College of Health Sciences, College of Physiotherapy, Dombivli, India
2Professor, Department of Community Physiotherapy, Lokmanya Tilak College of Physiotherapy, Kharghar, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Sanika Mujumdar
ABSTRACT
Background: Perimenopause is a transitional reproductive stage associated with hormonal fluctuations, musculoskeletal symptoms, reduced physical activity and possible decline in respiratory function. Core muscles contribute to lumbopelvic stability and forced expiration; however, their relationship with menopausal symptom severity and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in Indian perimenopausal women is not well established.
Aim: To find the association between severity of menopausal symptoms, core strength and PEFR in perimenopausal women.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 268 perimenopausal women aged 41-48 years, selected by purposive sampling from a tertiary health-care hospital and Mahila Mandals. Women using hormone replacement therapy and those with chronic cardiopulmonary, metabolic, endocrine, neurological, urogynaecological, or oncological conditions were excluded. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating scale (MRS), core strength using a pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) and PEFR using a Mini-Wright peak expiratory flow meter. Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation coefficients were applied according to data distribution.
Results: The mean age of participants was 45.2 ± 2.48 years. The mean total MRS score was 18.8 ± 7.41, indicating moderate symptom severity. Mean core strength was 3.69 ± 0.99 mmHg, and mean PEFR was 291.32 ± 59.76 L/minute. Core strength showed a strong positive correlation with PEFR (r = 0.546). Severity of menopausal symptoms showed weak negative correlations with core strength (r = −0.137) and PEFR (r = −0.130).
Conclusion: Core strength was positively associated with PEFR in perimenopausal women. Although menopausal symptom severity had only weak negative associations with core strength and PEFR, physiotherapists should consider core-stability and breathing assessment in community-based menopausal health programmes.
Key words: Perimenopause, Menopausal symptoms, Core strength, Peak expiratory flow rate, Menopause Rating Scale