Immediate Changes in Physical Function, Psychological Health, and Health-Related Quality of Life Following a Five-Day Multicomponent Coastal Health Program in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/

Objectives

After menopause, hormonal, age-related, and lifestyle factors may adversely affect physical functioning and psychological well-being. This study compared immediate changes in physical function, psychological health, and health-related quality of life following a five-day Combined Marine Treatment Program (CMTP) with those observed under a usual-routine control condition.

Methods

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted with 62 postmenopausal women allocated equally to the CMTP and control groups. The CMTP included coastal walking, resistance exercises, mindfulness meditation, and visits to local natural attractions. Participants in the control group continued their customary daily activities. The co-primary outcomes were the Timed Up and Go test and the Short Form-36. Secondary outcomes were grip strength, pinch strength, static balance, the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test whether temporal changes differed between groups. Trial registration was completed through the Clinical Research Information Service of the Republic of Korea (KCT0009741).

Results

Changes over time differed significantly between groups for the Timed Up and Go test, grip strength, pinch strength, eyes-open sway area, eyes-closed sway area, eyes-closed sway velocity, and all self-reported outcomes. Post-intervention values differed significantly between groups for the Timed Up and Go test, pinch strength, both eyes-closed balance measures, and all self-reported outcomes. No adverse events were reported during the trial.

Conclusions

Relative to the usual-routine condition, the five-day CMTP was associated with immediate changes in selected performance-based physical outcomes and broader changes across self-reported psychological and health-related quality-of-life outcomes. Brief multicomponent coastal health programs therefore warrant further study in postmenopausal women.