Obscured Rhythms: Using Rhythmanalysis to Understand How Symptoms Associated With Menopause Shape Everyday Experiences of Physical Activity

Physical activity (PA) is frequently promoted as a means of managing symptoms associated with the menopause transition (MT), yet little is known of how the embodied, emotional and temporal disruptions of menopause influence the experiences of, and possibilities for, movement. Taking inspiration from French sociologist Henri Lefebvre's theory of 'rhythmanalysis' and Jennifer Mason's facet methodology approach, we draw on qualitative survey responses from 249 women to examine how symptoms associated with the MT interrelate with space and time to shape everyday experiences of PA. Our findings highlight how symptoms intertwine with seasonal, hormonal and circadian cycles to reconfigure everyday tempos of energy, rest and aspirations to move more. These shifting rhythms often constrain participation in PA, but also prompt creative adjustments including new pacing strategies, altered routines and re-attunements to bodily fluctuation. Our rhythmanalytic approach challenges binary framings of PA as either hindered or facilitated, offering instead a textured account of how movement, stillness and slowing are negotiated during the MT. These original insights contribute to embodied and critical perspectives on health, demonstrating the value of more flexible, rhythmic and context-sensitive approaches to promoting movement through the MT.