Effect of exercise on premenstrual symptoms: A systematic review

• Published in: Complementary therapies in medicine Vol. 48; p. 102272
• Main Authors: Yesildere Saglam, Havva, Orsal, Ozlem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2020; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aerobics; Anxiety; Back pain; Breast; Constipation; Evaluation; Exercise; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Menstrual cycle; Menstruation; Pain; Pain sensitivity; Physical fitness; Pilates; PMS; Premenstrual symptom; Premenstrual syndrome; Reviews; Search engines; Systematic review; Womens health; Yoga; Systematic review; Premenstrual syndrome; Exercise; Premenstrual symptom
• ISSN: 0965-2299; 1873-6963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102272

•A total of 17 studies (1993–2018) that were carried out on 8817 women (min.23 - max.7193) were included in the study.•Results from this systemic review demonstrate that regardless of type of exercise, regular exercise, appears to be effective in relieving symptoms (physical and psychological symptoms).•Exercise is effective in improving physical symptoms such as pain, constipation, breast sensitivity, and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and anger.•Exercise can be used as an alternative therapy in reducing premenstrual symptoms.
The aim of this systematic review is to examine the effect of exercise on premenstrual symptoms.
In this systematic review, international databases (EBSCO Host, ScienceDirect PubMed, Google Scholar) were searched from the start of databases to 30 April 2018. Keywords used included “premenstrual syndrome” and “exercise”. For the keywords, “Medical Subject Headings” were used. Articles were screened by the two authors independently, and in case of disagreements, items were discussed until consensus was reached. All studies evaluating the effect of exercise on premenstrual symptoms were extracted from included studies without limiting the type of exercise.
A total of 361 studies on the subject were examined, and 17 publications in accordance with the inclusion criteria were included in the study and evaluated. It can be said that exercise is effective in improving physical symptoms such as pain, constipation, breast sensitivity, and psychological symptoms such as anxiety and anger. However, although there is no clarity regarding other symptoms, exercise has a symptom-reducing effect.
Exercise is an effective intervention for alleviating premenstrual symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome.