‘MenoWell’: A pilot 6-week novel, online, multimodal exercise and health education programme for women in all stages of menopause living in Laois, Ireland

Introduction: Perimenopausal and post-menopausal women experience a myriad of physical, endocrine, and psychological changes, which may negatively impact their wellness. Menopause education and lifestyle behaviours may enhance women's experience during this transition. Our aim was to examine the efficacy of ‘MenoWell’, a 6-week menopause-specific multimodal exercise and health education intervention, on physical performance, menopausal symptoms, wellbeing, and self-efficacy in this population in Laois, Ireland.

Methods: Twenty-three female participants (51.3±5.6 years, n=11 perimenopausal, n=12 post-menopausal) completed a 6-week online multimodal exercise (2*40-minute/week) and health education (1*40-minute/week) intervention. Pre- and post-testing of physical performance was conducted. Online questionnaires examined baseline menopause knowledge and education and changes in menopausal symptoms, wellbeing, and physical self-efficacy. Paired samples t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests examined changes pre- and post-intervention.

Results: Most participants did not feel informed about menopause. Post-intervention, there were significant improvements in sit-to-stand (p<0.001, η²=0.81), sit-and-reach (p<0.001, η²=0.49), box press-up (p<0.001, η²=0.73), 6-minute walk test (p<0.001, η²=0.56), menopause symptoms (p<0.001, η²=0.76), wellbeing (p<0.001, η²=0.36), and physical self-efficacy (p<0.001, η²=0.27). No significant change was observed for physical activity participation and bilateral single leg balance (p>0.05). 

Discussion: A substantial lack of awareness and knowledge surrounding menopause exists in Ireland. Only 6 weeks of online, evidence-based, time-efficient (2 hours per week) and menopause-specific multimodal exercise and health education significantly improved physical performance, menopausal symptoms, wellbeing, and physical self-efficacy in perimenopausal and post-menopausal women. Thus, a widespread rollout of women-specific multimodal exercise and health education programmes to inform and prepare women is recommended.