There is no question amongst researchers that exercise improves both physical and mental health in perimenopausal and menopausal women.  Recent research suggests that exercise

is at least as effective as hormone replacement therapy for managing menopausal symptoms of energy depletion, bone density loss, irritability, depression, and reductions in memory and concentration. In my treatment of women with perimenopausal or menopausal difficulties, the initiation of a sound exercise program of at least 3 hours per week, including both aerobic and anaerobic work, is an essential base requirement. I highly recommend Hot Flash Fitness as an outstanding program for the management of both physical and psychological menopausal symptoms.

​

Dr Jane Blouin, Psychologist,
Co-Director Ottawa Centre for Cognitive Therapy, and Assistant Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

Study Shows Regular Exercise Improves Mental and Physical Health of Menopausal Women
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 24, 2006 -- It's never too late for women to reap the benefits from
starting a regular exercise program, according to a new study that shows
exercise can relieve the symptoms of menopause and improve quality of
life.

Researchers found menopausal women aged 55-72 who started a year long
exercise program experienced significant improvement in both mental and
physical health while those who didn't exercise got worse.

"The group that improved took part in three hours of fully supervised
exercise a week for 12 months," says researcher Carmen
Villaverde-Gutierrez, professor of nursing at the University of Granada in
Spain, in a news release. "As well as monitoring severe symptoms, we also
looked at the women's quality of life and found that the average scores
for the exercise group improved while those for the control group
decreased."
                                             
                                                                                                            
In the study, researchers examined the effects of an exercise program
consisting of cardiovascular, stretching, muscle strengthening, and
relaxation exercises in 48 menopausal women. Half of the women
participated in the 12-month exercise program and the other half did not.

At the start of the study, 50% of the women in the exercise group and
about 58% of nonexercisers had severe menopausal symptoms. By the end of
the study, the percentage of women with severe menopausal symptoms dropped
to 37% among the exercise group and rose to over 66% among the others.

The exercise group also improved on measures of physical and psychological
functioning and positive state of mind, while the nonexercisers declined
in these areas.

"Joining the regular exercise programme improved the women's health and
also gave them the chance to join a sociable group activity and reduce
feelings of loneliness," says Villaverde-Gutierrez in a news release. "Our
findings suggest that regular exercise programmes can help to alleviate
some of the physical symptoms associated with the menopause and improve
women's health and quality of life."

"We would like to see exercise programmes offered as an integral part of
primary healthcare for menopausal women. At the very least, women going
through the menopause should be encouraged to join a local exercise group
suitable for their age and health so that they can share the benefits
experienced by the women in our study," says Villaverde-Gutierrez.