“A STUDY TO FIND OUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND MENOPAUSE AMONGST HEALTHY PRE AND POSTMENOPAUSAL FEMALES-CROSS SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY” Dr. Kajal Anadkat 1 , Dr. Ashika Tanna 2 1. M.P.T. Musculoskeletal and sports science, Assistant Professor, School of Physiotherapy, R.K.University, Tramba, Gujarat Mail ID. Kajal.anadkat@rku.ac.in/kjl.anadkat@gmail.com Contact No. +91-9429566176 2. M.P.T. Orthopaedics, YTTC, Assistant Professor, School of Physiotherapy, R.K.University, Tramba, Gujarat Mail ID. ashika.tanna@rku.ac.in / dr.ashikatanna89@gmail.com Contact No. +91-9978469090 ABSTRACT Background: Menopause is a transition period characterized by physiological, psychosocial, and sociological changes that accompany the depletion of ovarian function. It is a natural end of women years of having a regular monthly period, which also implies the end of her ability to get pregnant. Poorer subjective physical status has been reported by post menopausal women compared with premenopausal women. Available literatures had analyzed the changes in physical performance due to menopause were of varying etiology of menopause. Purpose: The aim of this study to find out whether natural menopause affects the physical performance (grip strength, static balance and hamstring flexibility) i.e. in postmenopausal females. Methodology: The study was conducted on 250 healthy premenopausal females with regular periods with a mean age of 42.12+1.768(SD) years and 250 healthy post menopausal females with natural history of menopause with a mean age of 50.188+3.122(SD) years. The grip strength, hamstring flexibility and static balance were measured using jamar hand held dynamometer, modified sit and reach test and OLST respectively. Results: Intergroup comparison was done by unpaired‘t’ test. The result revealed that there was a significant difference in grip strength (t=6.578, p<0.05) and static balance (t=16.895, p<0.05) but not in hamstring flexibility (t=1.506, p>0.05) among postmenopausal females. Conclusion: There is a reduction of grip strength and static balance among post menopausal females causing diminished physical performance with age advancement. International Journal for Research in Health Sciences and Nursing 18 Vol 2 Issue 3 M arch 2016 Paper 2