Hatha Yoga practice decreases menopause symptoms and improves quality of life: a randomized controlled trial

Jorge, M. P., Santaella, D. F., Pontes, I. M.O., Shiramizu, V. K.M. , Nascimento, E. B., Cabral, A., Lemos, T. M.A.M., Silva, R. H. and Ribeiro, A. M. (2016) Hatha Yoga practice decreases menopause symptoms and improves quality of life: a randomized controlled trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 26, pp. 128-135. (doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.03.014) (PMID:27261993)

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Abstract

Objectives: Yoga practice includes a group of specific psychophysical techniques. Although previous studies showed beneficial effects of yoga for health and rehabilitation, improving quality of life, there are few studies on the possible therapeutic application of yoga during the climacteric period. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychophysiological effects of Hatha Yoga regular practice in post-menopausal women. Methods: Eighty-eight post-menopausal women volunteered for this 12-week trial. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control (no intervention), exercise, and yoga. Questionnaires were applied in order to evaluate climacteric syndrome (Menopause Rating Scale), stress (Lipp Stress Symptom Inventory), quality of life (Brief World Health Organization Quality of Life), depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (State/Trait Anxiety Inventories). Physiological changes were evaluated through hormone levels (cortisol, FSH, LH, progesterone and estradiol). Results: At 12 weeks, yoga practitioners showed statistically lower scores for menopausal symptoms, stress levels and depression symptoms, as well as significantly higher scores in quality of life when compared to control and exercise groups. Only control group presented a significant increase in cortisol levels. The yoga and exercise groups showed decreased levels of FSH and LH when compared to control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that yoga promotes positive psychophysiological changes in post-menopausal women and may be applied as a complementary therapy towards this population.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Shiramizu, Dr Victor
Authors: Jorge, M. P., Santaella, D. F., Pontes, I. M.O., Shiramizu, V. K.M., Nascimento, E. B., Cabral, A., Lemos, T. M.A.M., Silva, R. H., and Ribeiro, A. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0965-2299
ISSN (Online):1873-6963
Published Online:22 March 2016

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