Author: Jorge MP1, Santaella DF2, Pontes IM3, Shiramizu VK4, Nascimento EB5, Cabral A6, Lemos TM7, Silva RH8, Ribeiro AM9
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: mahalagu@gmail.com.
<sup>2</sup>Sports Center of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: danyoga@gmail.com.
<sup>3</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: bellapontes@gmail.com.
<sup>4</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: victorshiramizu@gmail.com.
<sup>5</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: izaquen@yahoo.com.br.
<sup>6</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: aliciacabral27@gmail.com.
<sup>7</sup>Federal University of Rio Grande of Norte, Natal, Brazil. Electronic address: telmaml@yahoo.com.br.
<sup>8</sup>Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: reginasilva@gmail.com.
<sup>9</sup>Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: alemrib@gmail.com.
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med.
Date published: 2016 Jun
Other:
Volume ID: 26 , Pages: 128-135 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.03.014. Epub 2016 Mar 22. , Word Count: 240
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.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Aging; Mental health; Mind-body therapy; Physical activity
PMID: 27261993 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]