Effect of Body Mass on Quadriceps Muscle Strength among Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a major public health problem, which can lead to a reduction in functional capacity and an increase in the risk of mortality. Along with this, there are detrimental effects of menopause which can cause a decrease in functional capacity. The aim of this study was to understand the effect of obesity or increased weight on quadriceps muscle strength as age-related morphological changes are more pronounced in quadriceps. Methods: Sixty postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 70 years were divided into two groups according to body mass index (BMI): obese (n = 35) and not obese (n = 25). To assess quadriceps muscle strength, a modified sphygmomanometer was used. The procedure was done 3 times and the mean score was recorded. The same procedure was done for both legs. Results: The results obtained by comparing the left and right quadriceps muscle with normal and increased body mass index show extreme significance with p value < 0.0001. Mean and standard deviation were used as measurements. Conclusion: Our results show obesity or increased weight causes a decrease in quadriceps muscle strength as observed in postmenopausal women with increased body mass index. How to cite this article:Kulkarni KY, Yadav T. Effect of Body Mass on Quadriceps Muscle Strength among Postmenopausal Women. Chettinad Health City Med J. 2023;12(2):41-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2278.2044.202326