Funding outcome

Walking is a low cost, simple exercise with proven health and environmental benefits, and has the potential to be incorporated into almost every able-bodied person's schedule and lifestyle. The Mature Women's Health Research group at the University of Alberta wants to design a study to investigate whether a walking exercise program will improve sleep and quality of life in women seeking help at Edmonton's menopause clinics with moderate to severe menopause symptoms. The study consists of several parts including the assessment of accelerometer use and an evaluation of current literature on walking exercise with the goal to identify successful regimes that can be adapted to and would engage women in menopause transition age. An important part of our study will be an environmental scan to support the design of a suitable walking exercise regime in Edmonton, where winters can be a particular barrier to outdoor exercise. The environmental scan will explore locations and collect information on walking trails outdoors (tracks in the city or River Valley) and indoors (mall walking, indoor facilities) and gather information on existing walking groups and walking events using online resources, community contacts, and word of mouth. Data will be collected and analyzed descriptively for facilities and groups to identify features that might be suitable to menopausal women. The goal is to devise a walking program in the Edmonton area that would provide year-round walking opportunities and would be attractive for women to start and maintain a walking habit and thus ultimately has the potential of generating a meaningful and sustainable impact on health outcomes.