--- title: Can running exercise reduce premenstrual symptoms? | Niyora description: Yes, in this small study, women who did three months of running training had fewer premenstrual symptoms, while women who did not exercise saw no change. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/conditioning-exercise-decreases-premenstrual-symptoms-a-prospective-controlled-1986/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Can running exercise reduce premenstrual symptoms? Cohort study, 1986 # Can running exercise reduce premenstrual symptoms? Yes, in this small study, women who did three months of running training had fewer premenstrual symptoms, while women who did not exercise saw no change. Early or limited evidence 8 women with normal ovulatory cycles who exercised, compared with 6 sedentary women, in a 1986 study ## What they did Eight women with normal ovulating cycles started a running training programme and filled in symptom questionnaires over 3 months. Six sedentary women followed the same testing schedule but did not exercise, as a comparison group. Researchers also tracked body temperature, heart rate, body weight, and mid-cycle hormone levels. ## What they found In the control group, symptoms did not change over 3 months. In the exercise group, overall premenstrual symptom scores dropped from 6.5 to 3.5 (on a 9-point scale, p<0.01), breast symptoms decreased (to 8.3, p<0.005), and fluid-related symptoms fell from 7.3 to 5.5 (p<0.025). Cycle length, weight, and hormone levels stayed normal and unchanged. ## What it means for you Moderate running exercise was linked to fewer premenstrual symptoms without changing weight, hormones, or cycle length. The study is very small (only 8 exercisers and 6 controls), from 1986, so it cannot prove exercise causes the improvement and the results may not apply broadly. 6.5 to 3.5 Overall symptom score before vs after 7.3 to 5.5 Fluid symptom score before vs after 51.0 km/cycle Running distance reached by month 3 ## About the study Original title Conditioning exercise decreases premenstrual symptoms. A prospective controlled three month trial Authors Prior JC, Vigna Y, Alojada N Journal European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology Year 1986 Study design Cohort study What was tested Three months of running exercise training Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/bf00422732](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00422732) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 Do sleep, exercise, and diet quality affect period pain, heavy bleeding, and PMS in midlife? Randomised trial, 2026 Does yoga or Pilates help reduce PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Systematic review, 2026 Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2026 Does yoga reduce PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2025 Does caloric restriction and aerobic exercise improve PMS symptoms in obese women? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗