As women go through the menopause, they may see a decline in their ability to carry out routine tasks such as climbing stairs and carrying heavy things, according to a US study.
Exactly why is not clear, though weight gain and depression seem to account for the link to a degree, said researchers whose findings were published in the journal Menopause.
“There is definitely a connection between menopause and the physical limitations women perceive themselves as having,” said lead researcher Lisa Tseng, a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh.
Tseng said her findings suggest that the physiological changes of menopause play a role. A woman’s body tends to go through physical changes with an increase in fat and decrease in muscle mass. With a decline in estrogen, bone mass also falls.
Men also lose muscle mass and strength as they age, but studies have found that a reduction in women’s physical strength seems to speed up around the menopause.