---
title: Does exercise help reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms? | Niyora
description: Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise training can reduce mild PMS symptoms in sedentary women and athletes. However, existing studies were not well-des
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/conditioning-exercise-and-premenstrual-symptoms-1987/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does exercise help reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Review, 1987

# Does exercise help reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms?

Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise training can reduce mild PMS symptoms in sedentary women and athletes. However, existing studies were not well-designed, so more controlled research is needed.

 Early or limited evidence

Sedentary women and women athletes

## What they did

This was a review of studies examining the link between exercise and PMS symptoms.

## What they found

Exercise training in sedentary women and intensified training in athletes decreased mild premenstrual symptoms. Improvements occurred before any changes in menstrual cycle length.

## What it means for you

Exercise may help with mild PMS, but the evidence is still preliminary. A major limitation is that most studies did not clearly diagnose PMS or carefully control the exercise.

## About the study

Original title Conditioning exercise and premenstrual symptoms Authors Prior JC, Vigna Y Journal The Journal of reproductive medicine Year 1987 Study design Review What was tested Exercise training Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3302249/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3302249/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Cohort study, 2026

Do sleep, exercise, and diet quality affect period pain, heavy bleeding, and PMS in midlife?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga or Pilates help reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does aerobic or resistance exercise reduce anxiety in women with PMS?

Systematic review, 2026

Do mindfulness and relaxation techniques help with PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2026

Does yoga reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2025

Does caloric restriction and aerobic exercise improve PMS symptoms in obese women?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗
