The Relationship between Physical Activity and the Severity of Menopause Symptoms in Menopausal Women in Ahvaz, Iran

Menopause is a period of life that a permanent cessation of menstruation occurs due to loss of ovarian follicular activity. This study was done to determine the level of physical activity and its relationship with the severity of menopausal symptoms. This cross sectional study was conducted on 600 menopause women in 2013. Cases were selected randomly through cluster sampling method. Data were gathered based on a self-made questionnaire on demographic characteristics (Age، education، occupation، socioeconomic status، marital status، and number of pregnancies)، international physical activity questionnaire and menopausal symptoms. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21andKolmogorov-Smirnovand Spearman correlation coefficient tests. P value less than 0. 01 was considered significant and p value less than 0. 05 was also synchronous. Most women complained of menopausal symptoms in moderate، severe and very severe scales were sleep disorders (39%)، myalgia (42. 5%) and flushing (23. 2%). Daily work، transportation and leisure showed inverse association with hot flashes، heart problems، sleep disorders، depression، decreased libido، incontinence، vaginal dryness and muscle pain and working at home was also showed significant inverse association with heart problems and muscle pain (p<0. 05). Exercise is very important to stabilize the natural circulation and other physiological activities in postmenopausal women.