Exercise and Menopausal Symptoms

Researchers writing in the British Journal of General Practice say that their study "suggest(s) a positive association between somatic and psychological dimensions of health-related quality of life and participation in regular exercise. Women with BMI scores in the normal range reported lower vasomotor symptom scores and better health-related quality of life scores than heavier women."

Daley A, Macarthur C, Stokes-Lampard H, McManus R, Wilson S, Mutrie N. Exercise participation, body mass index, and health-related quality of life in women of menopausal age. Br J Gen Pract. 2007 Feb;57(535):130-5.

BACKGROUND: Menopausal symptoms can affect women's health and wellbeing. It is important to develop interventions to alleviate symptoms, especially given recent evidence resulting in many women no longer choosing to take hormone replacement therapy. Exercise may prove useful in alleviating symptoms, although evidence on its effectiveness has been conflicting.

AIM: To examine the association between exercise participation, body mass index (BMI), and health-related quality of life in women of menopausal-age. Design of study: Survey of women of menopausal age.

SETTING: West Midlands, England. METHOD: Women aged 46-55 years (n = 2399) registered with six general practices in the West Midlands were sent a questionnaire containing items relating to demographics, lifestyle factors, weight, height, exercise participation, menopausal bleeding patterns, and health-related quality of life (including vasomotor symptoms).

RESULTS: One thousand two hundred and six (50.3%) women replied. Women who were regularly active reported better health-related quality of life scores than women who were not regularly active (P<0.01 for all significant subscales). No difference in vasomotor symptoms was recorded for exercise status. Women who were obese reported significantly higher vasomotor symptom scores than women of normal weight (P<0.01). Women who were obese reported significantly higher somatic symptoms (P<0.001) and attractiveness concern scores (P<0.001) than women of normal weight or those who were overweight.

CONCLUSION: The data suggest a positive association between somatic and psychological dimensions of health-related quality of life and participation in regular exercise. Women with BMI scores in the normal range reported lower vasomotor symptom scores and better health-related quality of life scores than heavier women. Further evidence from high-quality randomised controlled trials is required to assess whether exercise interventions are effective for management of menopausal symptoms.

More to read
Hormone Supplementation	Estrogen	Progesterone	Thyroid Main Page
Testosterone - Men	Testosterone - Women	DHEA MAIN PAGE	Insulin
Pregnenolone Main Page		Melatonin Home Page	Diet and Lifestyle

Ageless
Suzanne Somers
"As my personal sports doctor, (Dr. Darrow) has never given me a drug for any of my injuries. He is of the thinking that unless a drug is necessary, it is better to allow inflammation to do nature's work." (page 130).

Patient Information
Joint Rehabilitation and Prolotherapy Information
Marc Darrow, M.D.,J.D.,Q.M.E.

Marc Darrow, M.D., J.D., is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA School of Medicine. He is a world recognized specialist in many chronic disorders. He has been featured in national publications, and television and radio shows, for his innovative approach to medicine. As the medical director of Joint Rehab Center, Inc. in West Los Angeles, Dr. Darrow has helped create an age management program for those individuals interested in maintaining a youthful, healthy vigor for adults through “middle age” and well into the senior years.

Why am I so driven to work in the age management field? Basically it was for my own personal, mental, and spiritual well being.
Read what Dr. Darrow has to say about how he got interested in age management!

DISCLAIMER:
Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of JOINT REHAB AND SPORTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC offer medical advice from this website. This information is offered for educational purposes only. Do not act or rely upon our information without seeking independent professional medical advice. The information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship between you and Dr. Darrow or any associate of JOINT REHAB AND SPORTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC. Neither Dr. Darrow, nor any associate of JOINT REHAB AND SPORTS MEDICAL CENTER, INC guarantees the accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources, information, apparatus, product, or process available at or from this website. MEDICAL MODALITIES MENTIONED ARE MEDICAL TECHNIQUES THAT MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED MAINSTREAM. AS WITH ANY MEDICAL PROCEDURE, RESULTS WILL VARY AMONG INDIVIDUALS, AND THERE COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL RISKS INVOLVED. THESE CONCERNS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PRIOR TO ANY TREATMENT SO THAT YOU HAVE PROPER INFORMED CONSENT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES TO HEALING.

Certain studies including the Woman's Health Initiative suggest that hormone supplementation may increase the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, stroke and other ailments. These risks should be discussed with your health care professional while deciding on, implementing, or continuing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

The option to use Human Identical Hormones or Bio-identical hormones should also be discussed with your medical care provider as there is not sufficient medical evidence at this time to suggest that they are safer than synthetic hormones and may pose equal risk.

If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, condition or issue, promptly contact your health care provider. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The photos in this Web site feature models for illustrative purposes.