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

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Menopause, Musculoskeletal Function, Physical Function

In brief

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 facts

Study ID

NCT07472205

Run by

University of Malaga

People needed

70

Starts

2026-09-01

Expected to finish

2027-01-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-16

Who can join

Age: 45 and older, up to 65. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Women aged between 45 and 65 years.
• Postmenopausal status defined as at least 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea.
• Low or moderate physical activity level assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
• Ability to understand study instructions and complete questionnaires in Spanish.
• Willingness to participate in the study and sign informed consent.

You may not qualify if…

• Neurological disorders affecting gait or motor control.
• Lower limb surgery within the previous 6 months.
• Active painful pathology of the foot or ankle that could interfere with the intervention or measurements.
• Cognitive impairment limiting understanding or execution of the protocol.
• Current participation in specific foot or ankle strengthening programs.
• Habitual vigorous physical activity or participation in structured lower limb strength training programs within the previous three months.

Where it is running

• Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Málaga — Málaga, Andalusia, Spain

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.