---
title: Does yoga or acupressure help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?
description: Yes, both helped, but yoga was significantly more effective than acupressure. The yoga group had larger reductions in PMS symptoms and bigger improvements in
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effects-of-acupressure-and-yoga-for-coping-with-premenstrual-syndromes-on-2021/
---

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- Does yoga or acupressure help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Randomised trial, 2021

# Does yoga or acupressure help reduce PMS symptoms and improve quality of life?

Yes, both helped, but yoga was significantly more effective than acupressure. The yoga group had larger reductions in PMS symptoms and bigger improvements in physical health, psychological health, and life circumstances.

 Moderate study design

155 students with PMS (50 yoga, 51 acupressure, 54 control)

## What they did

155 students with PMS complaints were randomly divided into three groups: 50 doing yoga, 51 receiving acupressure, and 54 in a control group. The intervention groups participated for 12 weeks.

## What they found

The yoga group had significantly lower PMS Scale scores and higher quality of life scores in physical health, psychological health, and environment domains compared to both acupressure and control groups (p < 0.05).

## What it means for you

Yoga appears to be a more effective non-medication treatment for PMS than acupressure, affecting both symptom severity and how women rate their overall quality of life. The study only included students, which may not represent all women.

155

students with PMS

12

weeks of intervention

## About the study

Original title The effects of acupressure and yoga for coping with premenstrual syndromes on premenstrual symptoms and quality of life Authors Simsek Kucukkelepce D, Unver H, Nacar G et al. Journal Complementary therapies in clinical practice Year 2021 Study design Randomised trial Participants 155 What was tested Yoga or acupressure for 12 weeks Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101282](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101282)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Exercise and yoga](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-exercise/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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

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