---
title: Does having a regular exercise habit affect premenstrual symptoms and pain sensitivity?
description: Women who exercised regularly showed signs of less pain sensitivity and milder premenstrual symptoms than those who did not exercise regularly, but this was a
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/does-exercise-habit-affect-central-sensitization-and-premenstrual-symptoms-in-2024/
---

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- Does having a regular exercise habit affect premenstrual symptoms and pain sensitivity?

Study, 2024

# Does having a regular exercise habit affect premenstrual symptoms and pain sensitivity?

Women who exercised regularly showed signs of less pain sensitivity and milder premenstrual symptoms than those who did not exercise regularly, but this was a small observational study so it cannot prove that exercise caused the difference.

 Early or limited evidence

Adult women grouped by exercise habit (none, irregular, or regular exercisers), average age 25.9 years.

## What they did

Adult women were split into three groups by exercise habit: not exercising, exercising irregularly, and exercising regularly. Average age was 25.9 years. The researchers measured signs of central sensitization, a pattern where the nervous system becomes more sensitive to pain, using two questionnaires, plus premenstrual symptom severity using the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale.

## What they found

Background details and menstrual cycle characteristics were similar across the three groups. There was a clear difference between the groups in one of the central sensitization measures (CSI-A). Premenstrual symptom severity was linked to signs of central sensitization and to menstrual pain.

## What it means for you

Building a regular exercise habit might help protect against pain sensitivity and premenstrual symptoms, but because the groups were compared rather than tested with a controlled trial, this cannot show for certain that exercise is the cause.

25.9 years

Average age of participants

## About the study

Original title DOES EXERCISE HABIT AFFECT CENTRAL SENSITIZATION AND PREMENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS IN ADULT WOMEN? NON-EXERCISING VERSUS (IR)REGULAR-EXERCISING Authors Zilan Bazancir‐Apaydin, Fulden Sarı Journal Karya Journal of Health Science Year 2024 Study design Study What was tested Comparing exercise habit (non-exercising, irregular exercising, regular exercising), not a treatment that was given to anyone. Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.52831/kjhs.1462237](https://doi.org/10.52831/kjhs.1462237)

## Topics

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

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