Jazz dance and concurrent training for menopausal symptom relief: evidence from the MenosPausa mais movimento project

To analyze the effects of two 16-week physical exercise programs (jazz dance [JD] and concurrent training [CT]) compared with a control group (CG), as well as the impact of detraining (6 mo and 12 mo follow-ups), on menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

This is a randomized clinical trial with follow-up at 6 and 12 months. A total of 70 postmenopausal women (mean age: 53.19 ± 3.39 y) were included. Participants were randomly allocated into 3 groups: jazz dance, concurrent training, and control. The severity of menopausal symptoms was assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). A linear mixed-effect model with random effects was used for statistical analysis under 2 approaches: intention-to-treat (ITT) and protocol adherence. A paired t test analysis of score changes was also conducted as a complementary descriptive analysis, between baseline and subsequent time points.

Significant time-related changes in somatic, psychological, urogenital, and total symptoms were observed in both the ITT and per-protocol analyses (P < 0.005), although no significant group×time interactions were identified. All 3 groups (JD, CT, and even the CG) showed improvements in menopausal symptoms over time, with benefits persisting during follow-up. Regarding changes over time, the CT group experienced the greatest reduction in symptoms over time, reducing the total questionnaire score by more than 7 points postintervention, more than 9 points at the 6-month follow-up, and maintaining the benefits even after one year. JD also reduced symptoms, but to a lesser extent compared with CT, by almost 4 points postintervention, and 6 points at the 6-month follow-up, with benefits also persisting after 1 year. Although the CG also showed some improvement, it was less pronounced compared with the intervention groups.

Although improvements in menopausal symptoms were observed over time within all groups, including the control group, no significant group×time interactions were found. Therefore, this study did not demonstrate a superior effect of JD or CT compared with the CG, only the results that compare the interventions and CG over time are interpretable.