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.
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
Topics
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