In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .
Physical activity, menopause, and quality of life: the role of affect and self-worth across time
Objective : Physical activity has been shown to enhance quality of life ( QOL ) ; however , few investigations of these effects exist in women undergoing the menopausal transition . The present study examined the long-term effects of physical activity on menopause-related QOL and tested the mediating effects of physical self-worth and positive affect in this relationship . Methods : Middle-aged women previously enrolled in a 4-month r and omized controlled trial involving walking and yoga , and a control group completed a follow-up mail-in survey 2 years after the end of the trial . The survey included a battery of psychological and physical activity measures , including measures of menopausal symptoms and menopause-related QOL . Longitudinal linear panel analysis was conducted within a covariance modeling framework to test whether physical self-worth and positive affect mediated the physical activity-QOL relationship over time . Results : At the end of the trial , physical activity and menopausal symptoms were related to physical self-worth and positive affect , and in turn , greater levels of physical self-worth and positive affect were associated with higher levels of menopause-related QOL . Analyses indicated that increases in physical activity  and decreases in menopausal symptoms over the 2-year period were related to increases in physical self-worth ( & bgr;s = 0.23 and −0.52 , physical activity and menopausal symptoms , respectively ) and , for symptoms , also to decreased positive affect ( & bgr ; = −0.47 ) , and both physical self-worth ( & bgr ; = 0.34 ) and affect ( & bgr ; = 0.43 ) directly influenced enhancements in QOL ( R2 = 0.775 ) . Conclusions : The findings support the position that the effects of physical activity on QOL are mediated , in part , by intermediate psychological outcomes and that physical activity can have long-term benefits for women undergoing the menopausal transition
In this review we found that exercise interventions ( or lifestyle activities ) that improved cardiorespiratory exercise capacity showed the most positive impact on physical health .
CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that programs should facilitate and support women to participate in regular exercise by embedding physical activity programs in public health initiatives , by developing home-based exercise programs that require few re sources and by creating interventions that can incorporate physical activity within a healthy lifestyle .
The review also suggests that clinicians should consider prescribing exercise in a tailored manner for older women to ensure that it is of a high enough intensity to obtain the positive sustained effects of exercise
BACKGROUND Participation in regular physical activity is among the most promising and cost effective strategies to reduce physical and cognitive decline and premature death .
However , confusion remains about the amount , frequency , and duration of physical activity that is likely to provide maximum benefit as well as the way in which interventions should be delivered .
AIMS This paper aim ed to review research on the impact of leisure-time and general physical activity levels on physical and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women .