In this study, Dr. Li-Wei Chien and colleagues investigated the effects of local thermal therapy using far-infrared radiation (FIR) on menopausal symptoms and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Conducted in Northern Taiwan, the randomized controlled trial involved two groups of women: an intervention group that received FIR therapy twice a week for 20 minutes per session over 10 weeks, and a control group that received no treatment. The primary goal was to assess the changes in menopausal symptoms using the Perceived Perimenopausal Disturbances Scale (MRS), and secondary outcomes included serum levels of estradiol (E2), osteocalcin (OC), and BMD measured by quantitative ultrasound. The results showed that the FIR therapy significantly reduced menopausal symptoms across various domains, including vasomotor, musculoskeletal, urologic, and psychological symptoms, with a notable decrease in the MRS scores for the intervention group. However, there were no significant changes in serum E2, OC, or BMD between the two groups.
The study’s findings suggest that FIR local thermal therapy can be an effective treatment for managing menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women, particularly in alleviating discomfort related to hot flashes, musculoskeletal pain, and mood disturbances. While there was no measurable impact on bone mineral density or hormonal markers such as estradiol and osteocalcin, the improvement in symptom management points to FIR as a promising alternative for symptom relief. This research, conducted by Dr. Li-Wei Chien, Shu-Ju Liu, Ying Chang, and Chi-Feng Liu, adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of infrared therapy for various medical applications, especially in improving quality of life during postmenopause.
