Clinical Pilates and Aerobic Exercise in Menopause
Condition: Menopause
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature that examined the effects
      of clinical Pilates training on vasomotor symptoms, quality of life, depression, and sleep
      problems versus aerobic exercises in menopausal women. This study aimed to investigate the
      effects of clinical Pilates training and aerobic exercises on menopausal symptoms, depression
      and quality of life and sleep quality in menopausal women.
    

Detailed description: 
      Menopause is defined as the time in a woman's life when there is a decrease in ovarian
      function and permanent cessation of reproductive function. Identification of the healthcare
      needs of menopausal women requires special attention. During menopause, hormonal, physical
      and emotional changes occur as a result of decreased estrogen levels. Psychological, somatic
      and atrophic changes occur in the early stages of menopause and cardiovascular disease and
      osteoporosis during late menopause.

      Due to the complex nature of menopause, various approaches are employed in the treatment of
      menopausal symptoms. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is one of them. However, prolonged use
      of combined estrogen/progesterone therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer. Among the
      conservative treatment methods, exercise is the most reliable and effective approach.
      Exercise provides similar benefits as HRT. The effects of exercise may vary with the
      initiation and type of exercise and the individual level of adherence to exercise. During
      exercise, cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems work together. In the
      short-term, regular exercise increases endurance, reduces stress and encourages better sleep
      patterns in a short period of time. In the longer term, exercise can reduce the risk of
      coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension (HT) and type 2 diabetes.

      Various exercise approaches are employed including aerobic exercise, yoga, pilates and
      relaxation exercises. Mixed findings on the outcomes of exercise have been reported in
      published studies. In a study examining the effects of aerobic exercise, yoga and diet on
      vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in menopausal women, exercise and diet were found to have no effect,
      whereas yoga showed beneficial effects on VMS. 12-week yoga and aerobic exercises were not
      effective in improving actigraphic sleep parameters in menopausal women with hot flashes.
      Contrastingly, a 6-week walking exercise program was demonstrated to improve sleep quality of
      postmenopausal women. A study evaluating the effects of aerobic exercise on estrogen level,
      fat mass and muscle mass versus resistance exercises in postmenopausal women found that
      resistance exercises were more effective in improving these parameters. Usgu et al. reported
      that 8-week aerobic walking exercises provided a reduction in somatic and psychological
      complaints, had no effect on urogenital symptoms but improved quality of life in
      premenopausal women. A meta-analysis of randomized trials aiming to determine the impact of
      low-to-moderate-intensity exercises on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older women
      found that both types of exercises were effective in alleviating depressive symptoms.
      Moderate-intensity (VO2 max 60%) walking exercises practiced for 4 months showed greater
      effects on menopausal symptoms, physical activity, depression, satisfaction with life,
      self-esteem and feelings of loneliness compared to control.

      On the other hand, Pilates is an exercise modality in which postural muscles are worked out
      with various body movements, and involves multi-muscle synergies that improve spinal
      stabilization, flexibility and endurance. The biopsychosocial effects of Pilates in
      menopausal women have been shown in many studies. Positive effects of a 12-week Pilates
      training on sleep quality, depression, fatigue and anxiety in postmenopausal women were
      previously demonstrated. An 8-week Pilates training was found to reduce depression by
      improving quality of life in menopausal women. A systematic review of published studies on
      the efficacy of Pilates exercises in the rehabilitation of several conditions including
      postmenopausal osteoporosis concluded that Pilates can be prescribed for effective management
      of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In a meta-analysis of the trials examining the effect of
      exercise on women with depression, Pilates training was shown to reduce depressive symptoms
      in postmenopausal women compared to control group in one study included in the analysis. In
      the same meta-analysis involving 25 studies, aerobic exercise training was found to provide
      similar effects on depressive symptoms when compared with other exercise methods.

      To the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature that examined the effects
      of clinical Pilates training on vasomotor symptoms, quality of life, depression, and sleep
      problems versus aerobic exercises in menopausal women. This study aimed to investigate the
      effects of clinical Pilates training and aerobic exercises on menopausal symptoms, depression
      and quality of life and sleep quality in menopausal women.
    

Intervention name(s): Clinical pilates exercise; Aerobic exercise
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): Clinical pilates is an exercise modality in which postural muscles are worked out with various body movements, and involves multi-muscle synergies that improve spinal stabilization, flexibility and endurance.; Aerobic exercise (also known as endurance activities, cardio or cardio-respiratory exercise) is physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: Menopause; Aerobic exercise; Pilates; Depression; Sleep; Quality of life