Survey study, 2014
Does Baduanjin, a traditional Chinese exercise, reduce PMS symptoms?
Yes, women who practiced Baduanjin for three menstrual cycles showed significant reductions in both physical and emotional PMS symptoms.
What they did
Forty women with PMS in Macau practiced standardized Baduanjin exercise for three menstrual cycles. Researchers measured symptom severity daily using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP) questionnaire, starting from the cycle before exercise began through three cycles after starting.
What they found
After the exercise period, total DRSP scores during the five premenstrual days were significantly reduced. Physical symptom scores during the five premenstrual days were also significantly reduced. Emotional symptoms including depressed mood, anxious mood, loss of interest, and reduced social activity showed reduced differences between premenstrual and follicular phases.
What it means for you
Baduanjin may help reduce PMS symptoms, especially physical ones. This is potentially useful since it is accessible and low-cost. However, the study had no control group and only 40 women, so we cannot confirm the exercise alone caused the improvement.
40
women with PMS studied
3
menstrual cycles of exercise
5
premenstrual days tracked
About the study
- Original title
- Baduanjin exercise improved premenstrual syndrome symptoms in Macau women
- Authors
- Zhang H, Zhu M, Song Y et al.
- Journal
- Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan
- Year
- 2014
- Study design
- Survey study
- What was tested
- Baduanjin exercise for three menstrual cycles
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0254-6272(15)30047-9
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2026
Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?
Lab study, 2026
Do core stability exercises help women with PMDD?
Cohort study, 2026
Are diet and lifestyle linked to premenstrual symptoms in college students?
Cohort study, 2026
Does the menstrual cycle phase affect how much physical activity women do?
Cohort study, 2026
Are stress, physical activity, and diet linked to premenstrual symptoms?
Randomised trial, 2026
Is yoga or aerobic exercise better for reducing PMS symptoms in adolescent girls?