Menthol-induced cutaneous stimulation combined with self-paced walking training improves knee extension performance in untrained older healthy females.

The study included only healthy females aged 60-69; results may not apply to males, younger or older adults, or those with existing conditions like sarcopenia or osteoarthritis. Training intensity was not measured via heart rate or oxygen uptake, relying only on self-paced speed and lap times. Neuromuscular activity during the walking itself was not measured, so the mechanism of improvement is inferred rather than observed. The sample size was small (35 participants analyzed) and the study duration was short (6 weeks). The control group did not perform any alternative activity, so it is unclear if the effects are due to menthol specifically or just the attention/supervision of the walking groups.

The study was supported by Kao Corporation, which provided the menthol gel and paid a salary to one of the authors (Tadayuki Tokunaga). The authors state the funder had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, or manuscript preparation.

Do not assume that menthol gel alone improves strength without the walking training. The study tested menthol applied immediately before walking sessions. Additionally, do not interpret the lack of muscle mass change as a failure; the improvements in strength and force development were likely neural, which is relevant for fall prevention but does not imply hypertrophy.