Comprasion of the effect of mat clinical pilates training and aerobic exercise training on menopausal symptoms, quality of life, SLEEP and depression

This study has been designed with the aim of analyzing the effects of clinical pilates and aerobic exercise training upon menopausal symptoms, quality of life, depression, and sleep in menopausal women. Thirty women from Tatvan -the district of Bitlis- have participated in the study. Individuals have been divided into two groups by closed-envelope randomization method. Clinical pilates group participants (n=15) (median age: 51.27±52 year, body weight: 79.60 ±11.46 kg, body height: 1.60±0.07 m, BMI: 30.78±3.33) have done their 40 minutes pilates workout (5 minutes warm-up, 30 minutes clinical pilates, 5 minutes cool-down) by a group exercise session twice a week for eight weeks with a physiotherapist. Aerobic exercise participants (n=15) (median age: 48.73±71, weight: 72.20±11.82 kg, body height: 1.63±0.05 m, BMI: 26.82±3.90) have done their 40 minutes aerobic workout (5 minutes warm up, 30 minutes cycling, 5 minutes cool-down) by cycling exercises individually with a physiotherapist twice a week for eight weeks. The demographic information and physical characteristics of the participants were recorded before the study. The participants' quality of life; SF-36 quality of life scale (SF-36), menopausal symptoms; Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), quality of sleep; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) levels of depression; Beck Depression Scale (BDI) evaluated at the beginning and end of the study. Physical properties and evaluated all parameters were found similar at the beginning of the study (p>0.05). Clinical pilates group showed improvement in physical role difficulty, mental health, general health, and social functioning of SF-36 subscales (p<0.05). In the aerobic exercise group, all subscales were improved except pain subscale of the SF-36 subscale (p<0.05). MRS total score, psychological and somatic subscale scores improved in the clinical pilates exercise group (p<0.05). No improvement was observed in MRS total and all subscale scores in the aerobic exercise group (p>0.05). BDI and PSQI scores improved in both groups (p<0.05). According to subscale of PSQI, improvements were observed in the daytime dysfunction and sleep latency in the clinical pilates group and the general sleep quality and daytime dysfunction were improved in the aerobic exercise group (p<0.05). The groups were similar for the differences in change and the evaluated parameters at the end of the study (p>0.05). Clinical pilates and aerobic exercises can be effective for decreasing depression, menopausal symptoms, and increasing sleep quality and quality of life in menopausal women. Both exercise methods can be recommended according to the needs of women in this period. Keywords: Aerobic exercise, exercise, pilates, menopause symptoms