Effect of Aerobic Exercise Program on Premenstrual Syndrome in Women of Hot and Cold Temperaments

Premenstrual syndrome is one of the most common disorders in women of childbearing age, which is accompanied by periodic changes in physical, mental and behavioral condition. Exercise is one of the proposed therapies to reduce the symptoms of this syndrome. Based on principles of Traditional Persian medicine (PM), type and intensity of symptoms and effectiveness of exercise depend on patient's "temperament" (called “Mizaj” in Persian medicine). This study was carried out to determine the effect of aerobic exercise program on premenstrual syndrome in women of hot and cold temperaments.
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out on 65 students living in dormitory of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Students were divided into two subgroups of hot and cold temperaments using random allocation method. Participants of intervention group (of hot and cold temperaments) did 20-minute aerobic exercise 3 times per week for 8 weeks; no intervention was attempted in control group. The required information was gathered and analyzed using standard questionnaires on determination of temperament, temporary determination of premenstrual syndrome, Beck depression, daily record of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and Borg scale (IRCT: 2015021721116N1).
FINDINGS: The two groups were homogenous in terms of physical and mental symptoms, age, diet, grade and menstrual cycle characteristics. The results have demonstrated that after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome among participants of hot temperament decreased from 21.8±2.5 to 10.4±3.1 (p=0.001) and decreased from 20.8±3.8 to 9.5±1.7 (p=0.001) among participants of cold temperament. Similarly, mental symptoms among participants of hot temperament decreased from 12.4±1.2 to 5.8±1.5 (p=0.001) and decreased from 11.9±1.9 to 5.3±1.2 (p=0.001) among participants of cold temperament and these changes were considered significant.
Results of the study revealed that doing aerobic exercise reduces the physical and mental symptoms of premenstrual syndrome among people of cold and hot temperament and highest level of symptom reduction was observed in participants of cold temperament.