Women's perception about hydrotherapy in postmenopause: a qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: The transition from reproductive to post-reproductive life is part of the female life cycle that impacts well-being, with menopause as a significant milestone. Regular physical activity should be encouraged to mitigate the symptoms of menopause and prevent age-related problems. Hydrotherapy is one such alternative, since immersion in heated water facilitates exercises that would be difficult to perform on land. Objective: Assess women’s perception about the effect of hydrotherapy on the signs and symptoms of postmenopause. Methods: A qualitative study in which participants underwent 48 hydrotherapy sessions and answered a semistructured interview. Results: The participants were eight women, aged 55.75 ± 8.55 years, menopausal for 8.5 ± 7.98 years, with vasomotor symptoms (100%), mood swings (87.5%), sleep disorders (87.5%), vaginal dryness (62.5%), low sex drive (62.5%) and chronic pain (100%). Conclusion: Women’s perception about the effects of hydrotherapy on the signs and symptoms of postmenopause include less pain and muscle tension, a decline in the signs and symptoms, better quality of life and sexual pleasure, and an improvement in biopsychosocial factors such as anxiety and stress through better social interaction.