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 .
Aerobic exercise training in healthy postmenopausal women: effects of hormone therapy
Objective : We investigated the influence of hormone therapy ( HT ) on submaximal central and peripheral function in healthy postmenopausal women after 12 weeks of endurance training . Methods : A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study in a research and clinical facility was conducted . All participants ( N = 23 ) underwent 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training ( walking 5 d/wk at 70%-80 % peak heart rate [ HR ] ) . Eleven participants received HT ; 12 received placebo . HT consisted of daily 17&bgr;-estradiol ( 1 mg ) with cyclic micronized progesterone ( 200 mg ) or placebo for 10 days per month . Participants were tested before and after exercise training . Primary outcome measures were submaximal stroke volume , cardiac output , and total peripheral resistance measured during cycling at 30W , 45W , and 60W . Secondary outcome measures were ventilatory threshold , peak oxygen uptake ( VO2 peak ) , and resting and peak-ischemic calf blood flow . Results : At baseline , HT and placebo groups were similar ( P > 0.05 ) in age ( mean ± SEM , 57 ± 1 y ) , height ( 162 ± 2 cm ) , weight ( 72 ± 4 kg ) , VO2 peak ( 21.5 ± 1.4 mL · kg−1 · min−1 ) , and all cardiovascular measures . Posttraining oxygen consumption and HR decreased ( P < 0.05 ) within groups during each submaximal exercise workload . Stroke volume , cardiac output , and total peripheral resistance remained unaltered ( P > 0.05 ) . VO2 peak and oxygen consumption at the ventilatory threshold increased ( P < 0.05 ) within groups . Resting and postischemic blood flow were unaltered . HT did not influence any of the cardiovascular responses . Conclusions : These findings suggest that in healthy postmenopausal women , 12 weeks of aerobic training is effective in eliciting favorable cardiovascular adaptations , regardless of the presence of short-term HT
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 .