Department of Kinanthropology, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Menopause. 2012 May;19(5):541-8. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318238ef09.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between functional capacity, muscle function, and daily step count in postmenopausal women.
Fifty-seven postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70 years were recruited. Body composition (body weight, body mass index, fat mass, and skeletal muscle mass), energetic metabolism (maximal oxygen consumption, total energy expenditure, daily step count), and functional capacity (muscle strength, muscle quality, chair stand, balance and alternate step tests) were measured. Women were divided into three groups (sedentary [n = 19], <7,500 steps; moderately active [n = 20], 7,500-10,000 steps; active [n = 18], >10,000 steps).
A higher number of steps per day was associated with higher maximal oxygen consumption (mL/min per kg; P = 0.001) and total energy expenditure (P = 0.004) as well as lower body weight (P = 0.035) and fat mass (P = 0.048). Surprisingly, no differences for skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle quality, and functional capacity were observed between the groups, although this could have been because of the small sample size.
A daily amount of 10,000 steps seems to be associated with better body composition and higher cardiovascular functions. However, neither functional capacity nor muscle functions seem to be related to the daily amount of steps in postmenopausal women. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm our preliminary results because cross-sectional study designs do not permit the understanding of temporal relations.
本研究旨在探讨绝经后妇女的功能能力、肌肉功能与日常步数之间的关系。
招募了 57 名年龄在 50 至 70 岁之间的绝经后妇女。测量了身体成分（体重、体重指数、体脂肪量和骨骼肌量）、能量代谢（最大耗氧量、总能量消耗、日常步数）和功能能力（肌肉力量、肌肉质量、椅子站立、平衡和交替踏步测试）。将女性分为三组（久坐组 [n = 19]，<7,500 步；中度活跃组 [n = 20]，7,500-10,000 步；活跃组 [n = 18]，>10,000 步）。
每天走的步数越多，最大耗氧量（mL/min/kg；P = 0.001）和总能量消耗（P = 0.004）越高，体重（P = 0.035）和体脂肪量（P = 0.048）越低。令人惊讶的是，尽管样本量较小，但各组之间的骨骼肌量、肌肉力量、肌肉质量和功能能力没有差异。
每天走 10,000 步似乎与更好的身体成分和更高的心血管功能有关。然而，功能能力和肌肉功能似乎与绝经后妇女的日常步数无关。需要进一步的前瞻性研究来证实我们的初步结果，因为横断面研究设计不允许理解时间关系。
