OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of exercise as treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. DESIGN: Three-group randomised controlled trial, two exercise interventions and a control group. SETTING: Primary Care, West Midlands UK. POPULATION: Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women experiencing at least five hot flushes/night sweats per day and not taken MHT in previous 3 months were recruited from 23 general practices. METHODS: Participants in both exercise interventions groups were offered two face-to-face consultations with a physical activity facilitator to support engagement in regular exercise. In addition, one exercise group received a menopause-specific information DVD and written materials to encourage regular exercise and the other exercise group was offered the opportunity to attend exercise social support groups in their communities. Interventions lasted 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was frequency of hot flushes/night sweats at 6-month up. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-one women were randomised (n = 87 per group). Neither of the exercise intervention groups reported significantly less frequent hot flushes/night sweats per week than controls (exercise-DVD versus control: -8.9, 95% CI -20.0 to 2.2; exercise-social support versus control: -5.2, 95% CI -16.7 to 6.3). CONCLUSIONS: This trial indicates that exercise is not an effective treatment for hot flushes/night sweats. Contrary to current clinical guidance, women should not be advised that exercise will relieve their vasomotor menopausal symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of exercise as treatment for vasomotor menopausal symptoms. DESIGN: Three-group randomised controlled trial, two exercise interventions and a control group. SETTING: Primary Care, West Midlands UK. POPULATION: Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women experiencing at least five hot flushes/night sweats per day and not taken MHT in previous 3 months were recruited from 23 general practices. METHODS: Participants in both exercise interventions groups were offered two face-to-face consultations with a physical activity facilitator to support engagement in regular exercise. In addition, one exercise group received a menopause-specific information DVD and written materials to encourage regular exercise and the other exercise group was offered the opportunity to attend exercise social support groups in their communities. Interventions lasted 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary outcome was frequency of hot flushes/night sweats at 6-month up. RESULTS: Two hundred and sixty-one women were randomised (n = 87 per group). Neither of the exercise intervention groups reported significantly less frequent hot flushes/night sweats per week than controls (exercise-DVD versus control: -8.9, 95% CI -20.0 to 2.2; exercise-social support versus control: -5.2, 95% CI -16.7 to 6.3). CONCLUSIONS: This trial indicates that exercise is not an effective treatment for hot flushes/night sweats. Contrary to current clinical guidance, women should not be advised that exercise will relieve their vasomotor menopausal symptoms.
Authors: Crystal S Denlinger; Tara Sanft; K Scott Baker; Shrujal Baxi; Gregory Broderick; Wendy Demark-Wahnefried; Debra L Friedman; Mindy Goldman; Melissa Hudson; Nazanin Khakpour; Allison King; Divya Koura; Elizabeth Kvale; Robin M Lally; Terry S Langbaum; Michelle Melisko; Jose G Montoya; Kathi Mooney; Javid J Moslehi; Tracey O'Connor; Linda Overholser; Electra D Paskett; Jeffrey Peppercorn; M Alma Rodriguez; Kathryn J Ruddy; Paula Silverman; Sophia Smith; Karen L Syrjala; Amye Tevaarwerk; Susan G Urba; Mark T Wakabayashi; Phyllis Zee; Deborah A Freedman-Cass; Nicole R McMillian Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2017-09 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Tom G Bailey; N Timothy Cable; Nabil Aziz; Greg Atkinson; Daniel J Cuthbertson; David A Low; Helen Jones Journal: J Physiol Date: 2015-12-30 Impact factor: 5.182
Authors: Ilias Goranitis; Leana Bellanca; Amanda J Daley; Adele Thomas; Helen Stokes-Lampard; Andrea K Roalfe; Sue Jowett Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-09-26 Impact factor: 3.240