Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .
Effect of exercise combined with phytoestrogens on quality of life in postmenopausal women
ABSTRACT Background Postmenopausal women seem to favor alternative therapies such as exercise and phytoestrogens as a substitute for potentially harmful hormone replacement therapy . Based on previous research , we hypothesized that phytoestrogens combined with exercise could have a synergic effect on women 's health . Objective To verify whether phytoestrogens enhance the response to mixed training regarding menopausal symptoms and quality of life in postmenopausal women . Methods From a pool of women participating in a 6-month r and omized , controlled exercise study , 21 received a placebo ( mean age 58.3 ± 5.4 years , body mass index 29.8 ± 5.1 kg/m2 ) and 19 received phytoestrogen supplements ( mean age 60.1 ± 3.4 years ; body mass index 30.3 ± 4.6 kg/m2 ) . Body weight , fat mass and lean body mass ( dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ) were assessed . Quality of life was estimated by the Short Form-36 ( SF-36 ) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 ( PSS-10 ) question naires , and menopausal symptoms by the Kupperman index . All measurements were performed before and after the intervention . Results Although the Kupperman index and PSS-10 remained unchanged in both groups , the SF-36 Physical Component Summary and almost all the SF-36 subscales ( except for role-emotional and mental health ) increased only in the exercise group taking phytoestrogens ( 0.001 < p < 0.04 ) . Conclusion While phytoestrogens combined with mixed exercise were not sufficient to improve menopausal symptoms , it seemed to be a better strategy than exercise alone to improve the general quality of life in postmenopausal women
Evidence was insufficient to show whether exercise is an effective treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
One small study suggested that HT is more effective than exercise .
Evidence was insufficient to show the relative effectiveness of exercise when compared with HT or yoga
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that many perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women will experience menopausal symptoms ; hot flushes are the most common .
Symptoms caused by fluctuating levels of oestrogen may be alleviated by hormone therapy ( HT ) , but a marked global decline in its use has result ed from concerns about the risks and benefits of HT .
Consequently , many women are seeking alternatives .
As large numbers of women are choosing not to take HT , it is increasingly important to identify evidence -based lifestyle modifications that have the potential to reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms .
OBJECTIVES To examine the effectiveness of any type of exercise intervention in the management of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women .