--- title: Does 8 weeks of aerobic exercise reduce physical PMS symptoms? description: Yes, significantly. Aerobic exercise reduced multiple physical symptoms including headache, nausea, constipation, swelling, bloating, vomiting, hot flashes, a url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effect-of-8-weeks-aerobic-exercise-on-severity-of-physical-symptoms-of-2018/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does 8 weeks of aerobic exercise reduce physical PMS symptoms? Randomised trial, 2018 # Does 8 weeks of aerobic exercise reduce physical PMS symptoms? Yes, significantly. Aerobic exercise reduced multiple physical symptoms including headache, nausea, constipation, swelling, bloating, vomiting, hot flashes, and appetite increase. Moderate study design 65 university students in Iran with PMS ## What they did Randomized trial with 65 university students in Iran. The exercise group did aerobic exercise 3 times a week for 20 minutes per session over 8 weeks, while the control group did not exercise. Symptoms were recorded daily. ## What they found In the exercise group compared to control, headache improved (p=0.001), nausea and constipation improved (p=0.01), swelling improved (p=0.001), bloating improved (p=0.01), vomiting improved (p=0.002), hot flashes improved (p=0.04), and appetite increase improved (p=0.008). ## What it means for you Regular aerobic exercise appears effective for physical PMS symptoms. Results are limited to university students in Iran, and the study only measured physical symptoms, not mood or emotional symptoms. 65 Students enrolled 8 Weeks of exercise program p = 0.001 Headache improvement significance ## About the study Original title The effect of 8 weeks aerobic exercise on severity of physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome: a clinical trial study Authors Mohebbi Dehnavi Z, Jafarnejad F, Sadeghi Goghary S Journal BMC women's health Year 2018 Study design Randomised trial Participants 65 What was tested 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, 3 times per week, 20 minutes per session Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0565-5](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0565-5) Original abstract Background: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common disorder among women of reproductive age. Nearly 40% of women report problems with their menstrual cycles. Exercise is one of the recommended treatments to reduce symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The present study was conducted to determine the effect of 8 weeks aerobic exercise on severity of physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial (IRCT2015021721116N1) that was performed on 65 students living in student dormitories of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2016, Iran. Samples were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. The intervention group engaged in 8 weeks of aerobic exercises, three times a week, and 20 min for each session. The tools were research unit selection questionnaire, midwifery and personal particulars, temporary determination of premenstrual syndrome, Beck Depression, recorded daily symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and Borg scale. We analyzed the data using SPSS software and Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman test. Results: At the beginning of the study, both control and intervention groups were homogeneous. The results of independent t-test showed that among the physical symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome in the intervention group compared to the control group, at the end of the study, headache (p = 0.001), nausea, constipation diarrhea (p = 0.01), swollen (p = 0/001) had a significant reduction. Also, the comparison of the difference between the mean of the signs at the beginning and the end of the study, bloating (p = 0.01), Vomiting (p = 0.002), hot flashes (p = 0.04), increase in appetite (p = 0.008) were significantly decreased. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise as one of the ways to treat premenstrual syndrome can reduce the physical symptoms of the syndrome. Trial registration: Name of registry: Zahra Mohebbi Dehnavi. IRCT registration number: IRCT 2015021721116 N1. Registration date: 2015 - 08-28. Registration timing: retrospective. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/) 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 Randomised trial, 2026 Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS? Systematic review, 2025 How common are PMS, PMDD, and painful periods in nursing students, and do they affect their schooling? Lab study, 2026 Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD? Survey study, 2026 Does exercise help college women with period problems and mental health? Non-randomised trial, 2026 Does video-guided digital menstrual exercise reduce PMS and period pain in adolescent girls? 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