A conversation with Danielly Fausto, Ph.D., physical education researcher at the Santa Catarina State University in Brazil

It’s estimated that up to 85% of women experience symptoms during menopause, including hot flashes, weight gain and mood swings.

Knowing this, Danielly Fausto, Ph.D., a physical education researcher at the Santa Catarina State University in Brazil, and her colleagues tested the effectiveness of jazz dance in reducing those symptoms by leading an exercise program of two 16-week courses, one on jazz dance and the other on concurrent training, which is a combination of aerobic and strength exercises. Their findings were published this month in Menopause.

Fausto recently sat down with Managed Healthcare Executive to talk about the results.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

MHE: What is the connection between exercise and menopause symptom improvement?

Fausto: Unfortunately, this connection is a little bit complex, and research is still limited. The benefits of physical exercise are already well documented. It can help regulate body temperature, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health and reduce stress. In menopause, a broad body of literature points to the benefits and the need to remain physically active during this stage of life. However, when it comes to the effects of physical exercises on menopausal symptoms, the results are still unclear.

MHE: What made you want to study the effect of jazz dance on menopause symptoms?

Fausto: I live in Brazil, and my university is Santa Catarina State University. In my research laboratory, we study the effect of physical exercises, such as belly dance, jazz dance and Pilates, in different populations, like breast cancer and Parkinson's disease patients and in menopause.

My research partner, Julia B.B. Martins, MS, and I chose to study jazz dance because she is a specialist in this modality. She was the one who conducted the jazz dance sections, while I was the one who conducted the concurrent training sessions.

Jazz dance brings out the femininity and sensuality of women, so we thought that it would be a good modality to improve sexual function and psychological aspects, while the concurrent training would be good for physical aspects.

MHE: The results of your study showed that although jazz dance and concurrent training may contribute to symptom reduction, their effects were not significantly different from those in the control group. Did this outcome surprise you?

Fausto: I must admit, I was very disappointed. My dear co-advisor tried to encourage me by saying that our study was consistent with the existing literature, and it truly is. It's not different from what other studies have already shown, but I think that every researcher hopes that the p-value will be significant for all variables and the control group will remain neutral.

My wise professors have always told me that every result is important for science, though, even when nothing is statistically significant, because it helps us to understand what can be done next.

MHE: What is the main message you hope people take away from your study?

Fausto: The main message I want people to take away is to keep moving. Women in menopause need to practice physical exercise. After menopause, the practice of physical activity drops by 40%.

Although the results of our study regarding symptoms were not statistically significant, in other outcomes, this study was truly transformative.

From many women, we heard, ‘Before I met you, I couldn't get my nails done. I was sad. I looked at the mirror, and I couldn't see myself. My hair is different, and my body is different. I don't know who I am anymore, but after I met you, I came back to take care of myself.”

Women should choose activities they really enjoy. Pleasure and adherence are key factors for a long-term health benefit during this life stage.

MHE: Why is it important to keep talking about menopause?

Fausto: We need to talk about menopause more because women have told me that they're going to the doctor, and the doctor said, “You're just in menopause,” but there are more than 30 symptoms associated with menopause!

It makes me happy, because here in Brazil, we have a lot of influential women that are middle-aged, and they are talking about it. Some women are so afraid to get old, and it’s so sad because it’s just the natural way of life.