Foot and Ankle Strengthening Program to Improve Physical Function in Menopausal Women

Sponsor
University of Malaga
Study ID
NCT07472205
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • Menopause
  • Musculoskeletal Function
  • Physical Function

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
45 Years - 65 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Foot and ankle exercise program — OTHER
    A structured exercise program focused on strengthening intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles, ankle stabilizers, and improving balance and functional performance. The program will be performed over a 12-week period.

Study Details

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of a 12-week foot and ankle strengthening program on physical function and health-related quality of life in menopausal women. Menopause is associated with hormonal changes that may negatively affect muscle strength, balance, and functional capacity, potentially leading to reduced mobility and increased risk of falls. Although exercise interventions have demonstrated benefits in this population, most programs focus on global lower-limb training and rarely target the foot and ankle complex, which plays a key role in postural stability and gait propulsion. Approximately 60 menopausal women aged 45-65 years will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group performing a structured foot and ankle strengthening program or a control group maintaining their usual physical activity. The intervention will last 12 weeks and will include one supervised weekly session and four home-based sessions. The primary outcome will be ankle plantarflexion isometric strength measured by hand-held dynamometry. Secondary outcomes will include ankle strength in other directions, intrinsic foot muscle function, gait speed, spatiotemporal gait parameters, balance, foot-related functional status, and health-related quality of life.

Key Dates

First listed
Mar 16, 2026
Start date
Sep 1, 2026
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Jan 15, 2027
Completion
Jan 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
70 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Exercise group
    Participants will perform a structured foot and ankle exercise program designed to improve muscle strength, balance, and functional performance. The intervention will last 12 weeks and will include exercises targeting intrinsic and extrinsic foot muscles, ankle stabilizers, and functional balance tasks.
  • No Intervention: No intervention
    Participants assigned to the control group will maintain their usual physical activity without performing the structured exercise program during the study period.

Primary Outcome Measure

Isometric plantarflexion strength of the ankle [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks ]

Central Contacts

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