Ann Physiother Clin | Volume 4, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Hepzibah SS1*, Thomas A2 and Flora F3
1Department of Physiotherapy, Garden City University, India
2Department of Health Science, Garden City University, India
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Garden City University, India
*Correspondance to: Shiny Hepzibah S
Fulltext PDFBackground: Perimenopause is the stage before menopause when women have irregular periods and eventually stop having periods altogether. During this time, women often experience symptoms like hot flashes and changes in mood and bleeding patterns, which can affect their daily lives. Studies have found that exercise, specifically low-impact aerobic activities like walking, can improve the health and well-being of women going through perimenopause. It can help reduce hot flashes, improve sleep, and enhance overall quality of life, benefiting both physical and mental health.
Aim: This study aimed to find the effects of low-impact evening exercises on perimenopausal hot flashes.
Search Method: PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and ResearchGate from these databases, articles were searched using the keywords.
Selection Criteria: The articles were collected based on the inclusion criteria focusing on the hot flashes experienced by perimenopausal/menopausal women.
Results: The results show that many women are turning to alternative therapies to manage their symptoms of perimenopausal hot flashes although there are many treatment choices available, including hormonal and non-hormonal drugs, due to worries about the adverse effects of medications. Hot flashes have been linked to exercise as a non-pharmacological therapy option, but it's unclear what kind of exercise is best for perimenopausal women or when to start. The reviewed studies collectively suggest that exercise such as the low-impact ones, can have beneficial effects on alleviating menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, including hot flashes. Low-impact exercises may also be effective in addressing these symptoms, as suggested by the overall findings of the reviewed literature. Thus low-impact evening exercises such as walking are beneficial and are especially important because many women report that hot flashes are worse in the evening.
Conclusion: Research from multiple studies indicates that engaging in low-impact exercises in the evening can effectively decrease hot flashes and improve the overall well-being of women experiencing perimenopause. These findings highlight the significance of including physical activity, particularly low-impact exercises, as a non-pharmacological solution for managing symptoms during this transitional phase. This intervention not only improves physical health but also addresses emotional and mental aspects, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of life for women in perimenopause. Thus, it is a valuable and easily accessible option for those seeking to manage their symptoms during this stage.
Menopause; Perimenopausal women; Hot flashes; Vasomotor symptoms; Low- impact exercise; Evening exercises; Physical activity
Hepzibah SS, Thomas A, Flora F. A Literature Review on Effects of Low-Impact Evening Exercises on Perimenopausal Hot Flashes. Ann Physiother Clin. 2024; 4(1): 1015..