group of women laughing at the gym

MOMENTUM - MOvement, MENopause and opTimUM health

MOMENTUM is a collaborative research initiative  in the Faculty of Kinesiology aimed at developing evidence and resources about menopause, movement, and health.  

About MOMENTUM

MOMENTUM is a transdisciplinary collaboration with the goal of understanding the relationship between physical activity and women’s health across menopause. The information collected from a diverse and inclusive cohort of women across the menopause trajectory, will be used to:

Program Creation

Programs will be tailored to the needs and preferences of menopausal women.

Create educational resources

Resources designed for menopausal women, health care providers, and the public.

Inform guidelines and policies

Research will aim to inform pre-existing and future clinical practice guidelines and public health policies. 

Improve health outcomes

Improve health outcomes by promoting physical activity as a key component of menopausal transition.

Importance of MOMENTUM

Menopause is a transformative period that can be associated with negative physical and emotional symptoms. These symptoms can act as barriers to physical activity which lead to a decline in physical activity levels across female lifespans. MOMENTUM aims to better understand the complex relationship between physical activity, menopause, and overall health.

MOMENTUM Cohort Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

If you are:

  • 40-60 years old
  • Alberta resident
  • Born with ovaries
  • Able to consent in English
  • Able to participate in light-moderate exercise

Then yes - you are eligible to participate regardless of menopause stage. MOMENTUM also accepts that women and those born with ovaries will all be unique. No health condition or treatment choice will disqualify you from being a part of the cohort. We are investigating all parts of the menopause trajectory including pre-menopause, peri-menopause and post-menopause. 

How do I schedule my in-person assessment?

You will receive a link to schedule your in-person appointments. Please be aware that due to cohort size, there may be a delay between completing the self-administered questionnaires and your in-person appointments. 

What does in-person assessment include?

Annual in-person testing includes two short appointments that can be scheduled on the same or separate days. Morning assessments will include options for appointments starting at 7:00am. The testing appointments include:

  1. One appointment (approximately 1 hour) for stool sample return, bloodwork, bone scan, and cognitive testing which are currently available on weekday mornings. 
  2. One appointment for a group fitness assessment (approximately 1 hour) which are currently available on weekday mornings and evenings. 

If appointments are scheduled for the same day, please note that the fitness assessment needs to be scheduled for after the physiological and cognitive testing. 

Will I receive copies of my assessment results?

Yes. Part of MOMENTUM's objective is to empower women through knowledge of their own health. We will provide you with an annual summary of key assessment values where there is immediate data, such as your DXA scan, fitness measurements and some cognitive data. In the event that that you would like specific information that was not included, please do not hesitate to ask. 

Learn about one of the largest menopause studies of its kind in Canada

The study will look at nutrition, exercise physiology, gut, brain, heart and bone health, and psychosocial well-being. More than 10 million Canadian women are in some stage of pre-, peri- or post-menopause and yet it is one of the least studied areas of healthcare.

Participation in MOMENTUM

Participation in MOMENTUM looks different for everyone. Whether you are a participant, community partner or research collaborator there is a role for you. 

Participant on exercise bike

Participants

Raylene Reimer conducting research

Research Collaborators

women walking in exercise class

Community Partners

Research

The MOMENTUM cohort study consists of multiple sub-studies. Discover more about participation in the cohort study and what each sub-study entails. 

The cohort study will create a database of information about the relationship between exercise, menopause, and health.

women walking with yoga mats

Funding

MOMENTUM is supported by funding generously provided through: 

The Joan Snyder Fund for Excellence in Kinesiology Research 

Initiating Connector Grant – Transdisciplinary Scholarship, University of Calgary 

Meet our Team

Learn more about our core team of transdisciplinary researchers.

two menopause researchers and a board member in the gym at UCalgary

Sign up today to receive updates from MOMENTUM

Every few weeks we will be sending out information about menopause research findings, statistics, ongoing projects and more. 

Thank you for your submission.