Survey study, 2023
Does exercise reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes. Each additional 15 minutes per day of moderate activity was linked to 42% lower PMS scores, and 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity to 39% lower scores. The study was observational, so we cannot confirm exercise reduces PMS.
What they did
Measured physical activity with accelerometers and assessed PMS symptoms in 221 female college students in Shanghai, China who met inclusion criteria.
What they found
67% of students had PMS. Each additional 15 minutes of moderate activity was associated with a 42% decrease in PMS score. Each additional 15 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity was associated with 39.0% lower PMS score. Light activity and sedentary behavior showed no correlation with PMS.
What it means for you
Moderate or vigorous exercise may help reduce PMS symptoms. The main limitation is the observational design, so we do not know if exercise reduces PMS or if people with milder symptoms simply exercise more.
67%
students with PMS
42%
PMS score decrease per 15 min moderate activity
39%
PMS score decrease per 15 min moderate-vigorous activity
About the study
- Original title
- Associations Among Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And Premenstrual Syndrome In Chinese Female College Students
- Authors
- Yuqing Shi, Yuan Xinyu, Mengyao Shi et al.
- Journal
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Year
- 2023
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 315
- What was tested
- None
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000982308.95452.d4
Topics
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