Menopausal Status, Moderate-Intensity Walking, and Symptoms in Midlife Women

Abstract

The purpose of this randomized clinical trial study was to determine the effectiveness of a 24-week, home-based, moderate-intensity, walking intervention in improving symptoms (vasomotor, uro-genital/sexual, sleep, psychological, cognitive, physical) experienced by midlife women. One hundred and seventy-three Caucasian and African American women aged 45 to 65 who were not on hormone therapy, had no major signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease, and were sedentary in their leisure activity were randomly assigned to the moderate-intensity walking group or the nonexercise control group. The exercise prescription was walking at a frequency of 4 times a week for a duration of 20 to 30 minutes. The symptom impact inventory included the frequency, intensity, and bothersomeness of 33 symptoms collected at baseline and 24 weeks. Adherence was measured with a heart rate monitor and exercise log. Average adherence to frequency of walking was 71.6% of the expected walks. After 24 weeks, there were no differences between the walking and control group on change in symptoms. However, multiple regression revealed that frequency of adherence to walking along with change in physical symptoms and menopausal status were significant predictors of change in sleep symptoms. While walking did not improve most symptoms experienced by midlife women, frequency of walking may improve sleep.

The Effect of Qigong on Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Sleep for Perimenopausal Women: A Preliminary Observational Study

“…These results are similar to those of Chattha et al, 11 who reported that the practice of Indian yoga improved vasomotor and psychologic symptoms in a similar population, but different from Wilbur et al, who reported that 6 months of walking exercise did not improve vasomotor or psychologic symptoms in menopausal women. 10 Other studies using t'ai-chi chuan as the intervention report decreases in somatic symptoms (hot flashes) also. 29 However, a yearlong, randomized, clinical trial by Aiello and colleagues studying the effect moderateintense exercise on menopause symptoms in overweight, postmenopausal women not taking MHT found that the exercise program increased the severity of some symptoms (such as hot flashes) in a small number of women.…”

“…[6][7][8] Exercise is one alternative method that might relieve the symptoms of menopause, but its effectiveness is unclear. 9,10 In India, one study of the effect of an 8-week yoga program on the climacteric symptoms of 120 women aged 40-55 years found that yoga caused significantly greater improvements in vasomotor symptoms and psychologic factors in the yoga group than in the control group. 11 However, several studies have found no effect of exercise on menopause symptoms.…”

“…After 24 weeks, no differences were observed between the groups in symptoms (vasomotor, urogenital/sexual, psychologic, and cognitive functions). 10 Another study of 173 overweight postmenopausal women who had not received MHT for 6 months assigned 87 women to an experimental group, which participated in a moderately intense exercise intervention program, and 86 women to a control nonexercise group. A significant increase in hot flash severity and decreased risk of memory problems was observed in the exercise group compared to the controls over 12 months.…”

Physical Activity And Risk of Hot Flashes among Women in Midlife

“…Whereas some studies have reported varying degrees of risk reduction with increased physical activity, 5,[18][19][20] others have shown no relation. 17,[21][22][23][24] Potential sources for these uncertain findings include small numbers of participants and insufficient statistical power, 8,20,21,25,26 as well as assessment and classification criteria that have inadequately captured factors affecting the severity or frequency of hot flash symptoms. 9,17,27 Other investigators have examined diet and exercise patterns that are distinct from those in the United States.…”

Effects of aerobic exercise on sexual functioning in depressed adults

“…This study did not show significant improvements in uro-genital symptoms in the walking group as compared to the control group. However, adherence was low in the walking group (Wilbur, Miller, McDevitt, Wang, & Miller, 2005).…”