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Physical Activity and Quality of Life During Menopausal Transition and Postmenopause

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Skin, Mucosa and Menopause

Abstract

Menopausal transition is associated with a variety of symptoms and complaints among majority of women. It is difficult to separate whether symptoms prevalent among menopausal women are due to aging or menopause itself. However, quality of life is an important issue when health of the middle-aged menopausal women is considered. Quality of life measurements include several aspects such as physical and mental health, vitality, depression, vasomotor symptoms, and other symptoms. Physical activity has been shown to be associated with overall better subjective health and also with quality of life among menopausal women. In this chapter, we discuss prevalence menopausal of symptoms, quality of life scales, and mechanisms of physical activity related to menopausal symptoms. Experimental evidence concerning physical activity, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life is not large; only few studies have been performed. Large cohort studies have shown that physical activity is associated with fewer menopausal symptoms. To summarize, the studies have parallel results independent of their design; increasing as well as greater levels of physical activity are associated with better quality of life. Thus, physical activity can be recommended for menopausal women suffering from vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UKK Institute for Health Promotion, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Kaupinpuistonkatu 1, Tampere, 33500, Finland

    Kirsi Mansikkamäki MS

  2. UKK Institute for Health Promotion, Tampere, Finland

    Riitta M. Luoto MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Kirsi Mansikkamäki MS
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  2. Riitta M. Luoto MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kirsi Mansikkamäki MS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Procter & Gamble Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Nancy Fugate Woods

  4. Department of Dermatology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Mansikkamäki, K., Luoto, R.M. (2015). Physical Activity and Quality of Life During Menopausal Transition and Postmenopause. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Fugate Woods, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Skin, Mucosa and Menopause. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44080-3_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44079-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44080-3

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