Comparing urban dance and functional fitness for postmenopausal women: A randomized clinical trial protocol

Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological treatment that can bring positive changes to menopausal women experiencing physiological and hormonal changes leading to various physical and psychological symptoms. This study introduces the MenosPausa Mais Movimento Project protocol, aiming to compare the effects of Urban Dance and Functional Fitness with a control group on the physical and psychological well-being of postmenopausal women.

This study outlines a protocol for a three-arm randomized clinical trial involving two interventions (Urban Dance and Functional Fitness) lasting 12 weeks. The participants will be women in early postmenopause, aged between 40 and 59 years, assigned to three groups: (1) Urban Dance Intervention Group, (2) Functional Fitness Intervention Group, and (3) Control Group. Both interventions will consist of two weekly sessions lasting 60 min each. The outcomes to be assessed include physical aspects (body mass index, fat percentage, waist circumference, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, bone densitometry, sleep quality, urinary incontinence, sexual function, and follicle-stimulating hormone) as well as psychological aspects (stress, cognition, mood state, depressive symptoms, and anxiety). Data collection and analysis will be conducted during pre- and post-intervention periods.

The study is proposed with the aim of expanding the evidence related to the effects of different types of physical exercise in reducing and/or stopping symptoms resulting from menopause. The hypothesis is that women who perform the types of physical exercise will significantly improve the symptoms investigated when compared to those in the control group, thus expanding the possibilities of non-pharmacological therapies to assist the work of health professionals, favoring the physical and psychological aspects of this population.