The Impact of Walking Programs on Reduction of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review

<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify types of walking programs and to determine the effects of these programs on menopausal symptoms. </p> <p><strong>Background: </strong>Menopause is a naturally occurring phenomenon for women and can present with several physical and mental symptoms that are more severely experienced by some individuals. These experiences can be very distressing for women to deal with, especially because of their personal, social, and work lives. The substantial impact of menopausal symptoms direly calls for effective intervention. Specific to menopause, physical activity is a form of intervention that can decrease occurrences and severity of menopausal symptoms. Previous studies have reported the benefits of walking programs in reducing symptoms, yet it is unclear which specific ones are most effective in reducing menopausal symptoms, especially because of the time and efficacy barriers reported by menopausal women. </p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted in nine databases for articles published since September 2011, to identify quantitative studies that evaluated walking programs in menopausal women. Two investigators independently screened articles extracted data related to the type and the outcomes of walking programs, and assessed risk of bias. Effect sizes were calculated to quantify the effects of walking programs on menopausal symptoms. </p>