Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Figure 1. PRISMA flow diagram of included and excluded studies. PMS = premenstural syndrome. RCT = randomised controlled trial.
- Figure 2. Forest plot for primary outcome: exercise versus control for overall symptom reduction.
- Figure 3. Risk of bias summary. CI = confidence interval. df = degrees of freedom. IV = inverse variance. SD = standard deviation.
- Figure 4. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment of overall strength of evidence.
Tables
Study n Participants Interventions Comparators Outcomes Results Abedy et al, 2014 30 Sports club attendees, Iran (20–30 years) Two intervention groups: stretching exercise, resistance exercise; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session Usual care Daily Record of Severity of Problems (not clearly stated within text) Statistically significant reduction in psychological and behavioural symptoms at 8 weeks regardless of intervention type Bibi, 1995 50 University and community volunteers, US (18–45 years) Two intervention groups: moderate intensity aerobic stair stepping, low intensity aerobic stair stepping; 12-weeks duration, three sessions per weeks, 45 minutes per session Usual care Daily ratings form Statistically significant reduction in overall symptoms at 12 weeks regardless of intervention intensity El-Lithy et al, 2015 30 Outpatient clinic attendees, Egypt(16–20 years) Aerobic exercise with 50 mg vitamin B6 and 1200 mg calcium daily; 12-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session 50 mg vitamin B6 and 1200 mg calcium only Modified Premenstrual Syndrome Questionnaire Statistically significant reduction in overall, psychological, and behavioural symptoms at 12 weeks Ilka et al, 2015 50 Local residents, Iran(20–35 years) Pilates; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session, increasing in intensity Usual care Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (Iranian) Statistically significant reduction in symptoms at 8 weeks Jafarnejad et al, 2016(additional duplicates) 70 University Students, Iran (20–40 years) Home-based aerobic exercise; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 20 minutes per session Usual care Daily record of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome Statistically significant reduction in psychological and physical symptoms at 8 weeks Kamalifard et al, 2017 62 Outpatient clinic attendees, Iran(20–45 years) Yoga; 10-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session Usual care Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (Iranian) Statistically significant reduction in psychological, physical, and behavioural symptoms at 10 weeks Mosallanejad et al, 2007 40 University students, Iran (18–25 years) Aerobic; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 15–45 minutes per session (increasing over the 8 weeks) Not clearly reported, assumed usual care Daily Record of Severity of Problems (not clearly stated within text) Statistically significant reduction in psychological and physical symptoms at 8 weeks Naeini, 2008 57 Sports club attendees, Iran (18–40 years) Two intervention groups: 'aerobic', 'physical'; 12-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 20–30 minutes per session Usual care Not clearly described Statistically significant reduction in overall symptoms at 12 weeks regardless of intervention type Nazemi et al, 2015 40(20 included in this review) University students, Iran (18–25 years) Group water aerobics; 8-weeks duration, alternate day sessions, 80 minutes per session Not clearly reported Short premenstrual assessment form Statistically significant reduction in symptoms at 8 weeks Pazoki et al, 2016 48 High school students, Iran (16–18 years) Aerobic exercise; 8-weeks duration, 60 minutes per session. Sessions per week not reported Usual care (two other groups received fennel extract, and fennel extract with exercise) Daily Record of Severity of Problems Statistically significant reduction in overall symptoms at 8 weeks Samadi et al, 2013 40 University students, Iran (18–25 years) Aerobic exercise; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session. Hand weights added to one session per week, intensity gradually increased Usual care Premenstrual syndrome standard option complaint check list (unvalidated tool) Statistically significant reduction in overall, psychological, and physical symptoms at 8 weeks Tonekaboni et al, 2012 90 Iran(no age range or recruitment pool given) Two aerobic exercise intervention groups: high intensity and moderate intensity; 12-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 50 minutes per session. Specialist supervision for all sessions Usual care ACOG Daily Symptoms Calendar (unvalidated tool) Statistically significant reduction in psychological and physical symptoms at 12 weeks Yang and Kim, 2016 40 Nursing students, Republic of Korea(18–25 years) Yoga; 12 weeks per duration, one session per week, 60 minutes per session Usual care (asked to refrain from practising yoga) Modified Short-Form Menstrual Distress Questionnaire Statistically significant reduction in overall symptoms at 12 weeks Yekke Fallah et al, 2013 70 University students, Iran (18–32 years) Two intervention groups: aerobic, fast walking; 12-weeks duration, daily sessions, 30 minutes per session Usual care Jack Tips Reduction in psychological and physical symptoms at 12 weeks regardless of intervention; not statistically significant Zoodfekr et al, 2017 40(20 included in this review) Hospital clinic patients, Iran (age range not reported) Aerobic exercise; 8-weeks duration, three sessions per week, 60 minutes per session Consumed placebo pill (two further intervention groups with different doses of curcumin pills) Dickerson Questionnaire Statistically significant reduction in overall symptoms at 8 weeks
Supplementary Data
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
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Supplementary material is not copyedited or typeset, and is published as supplied by the author(s). The author(s) retain(s) responsibility for its accuracy.
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Exercise for premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
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