A review of 43 trials in postmenopausal women found exercise, especially resistance training and combined programmes, produced a small but statistically significant increase in bone density versus no exercise.
Direction not statedMeta-analysis · 4,320 participants pooled · 2011PostmenopausalCited 400 timesPubMed
A review of 28 randomised trials in postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 found walking combined with resistance training could preserve weight and bone density and increase muscle strength.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2,646 participants pooled · 2004Early postmenopausalCited 219 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 19 trials in postmenopausal women found adding exercise to medicine or supplements improved lumbar spine bone density, leg muscle strength, balance, and quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,249 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 17 RCTs in postmenopausal women with sarcopenia found exercise interventions improved muscle mass, strength and physical function such as gait speed.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 744 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 11 trials in women aged 60 and over with sarcopenic obesity found exercise reduced body fat percentage and improved muscle mass and handgrip strength, with no change in gait speed.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 532 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 10 trials found chair-based exercise improved muscle endurance, flexibility and dynamic balance in postmenopausal women, but not handgrip strength or static balance.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 509 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of whole body vibration or resistance training; vibration increased hip bone density and muscle strength, while resistance training and controls showed no bone density change.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 70 women · 24 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 445 timesPubMed
A review of 7 studies in adults over 50, including postmenopausal women, found combined tai chi and resistance training improved muscle strength, aerobic endurance, balance, and mobility after long term training.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 703 participants pooled · 2020Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone mass did 8 months of twice weekly high intensity resistance and impact training, which improved spine and hip bone density and functional performance versus a low intensity home program.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 101 women · 32 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 260 timesPubMed
Sedentary postmenopausal women did high-intensity strength training twice weekly for one year and showed increased hip and spine bone density, muscle mass, strength and balance compared with controls who declined.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 39 women · 52 weeks · 1994PostmenopausalCited 546 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 26 trials found whole-body vibration, balance, balance plus nutrition, and resistance exercise improved balance scores in perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2023PerimenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Sedentary postmenopausal women and frail nursing home residents did high intensity strength training, and researchers found significant gains in strength and functional status.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 100 women · 1997PostmenopausalCited 161 timesPubMed
A review found exercise in peri and postmenopausal women modestly increases or preserves bone density and improves muscle strength and balance, but direct proof it reduces fractures is lacking.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2004Midlife womenCited 25 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 2 years of resistance and walking exercise with or without soy isoflavones, and exercise groups maintained hip bone density and improved balance compared with control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 351 women · 104 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 62 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporotic spinal fractures did 10 weeks of balance and strength physiotherapy training, reporting less pain, improved quality of life, and improved muscle strength.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 53 women · 10 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 91 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with bone loss did 24 months of strength training and reported significantly improved muscle strength and balance versus non-exercisers, with no significant difference in falls.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 110 women · 104 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 54 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did 18 weeks of progressive quadriceps strength and proprioception training and had fewer falls, better balance and quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 85 women · 18 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 50 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 75 did 9 months of weighted vest exercise and showed improved balance, leg strength and power versus controls, but no change in femoral neck bone mass.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 39 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 75 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did 52 weeks of hip-targeted strength, balance and jumping exercise with calcium, and showed a small hip bone density benefit plus better quality of life versus controls.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 39 women · 52 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 49 timesPubMed
Older postmenopausal cancer survivors did tai ji quan, strength training, or stretching twice weekly for 6 months and researchers found no difference in fall incidence between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 462 women · 26 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did 6 months of balance and strength exercise and showed improved static and dynamic balance and upper and lower limb strength compared with controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 26 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures who did a 6-month home exercise program of stretching, strength training and walking reported better quality of life and balance than controls, with no change in bone density.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 113 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did a 12 week program combining resistance, balance and aerobic exercise; the exercise group improved functional measures like Timed Up and Go and fall-efficacy more than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 96 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
Sedentary postmenopausal women did foot stamping, squats and line dancing; the program maintained hip bone density and improved leg strength and balance.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 45 women · 2007PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed
In 26 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia, 12 weeks of low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction improved strength, a bone formation marker and balance, similar to higher-intensity training.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
In 60 postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures, 6 weeks of supervised back-strengthening exercise improved spinal pain, muscle strength, mobility and quality of life more than a home program or control.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 60 women · 6 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal and elderly women did 12 weeks of traditional or cluster-set resistance training; both methods similarly improved strength, power and functional performance.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 66 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed
In 244 women aged 45 to 65 doing a 4-month resistance exercise program, adding a fortified milk drink gave extra gains in lean mass, bone content and balance but not in muscle strength versus exercise with placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 216 women · 16 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
Women recently through menopause did brisk walking with resistance training for 15 weeks and improved leg strength and walking time, but not balance, with 92% adherence.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 134 women · 15 weeks · 2006Early postmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture did a 6-month weighted vest and balance exercise programme, showing no significant difference from education alone in strength, bone density, balance or quality of life.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 80 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
In 30 postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia, a 6 week exercise program with added whole body vibration improved one balance stability measure more than exercise alone, with no other differences.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 30 women · 6 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
Healthy postmenopausal elderly women who did 12 weeks of elastic-band resistance training showed increased leg blood flow and improved functional ability tests compared to controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 women · 12 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did back extensor exercise with or without eldecalcitol for 24 weeks; eldecalcitol increased quadriceps strength but balance, walking and fall rates did not differ.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 226 women · 24 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone density did nine months of resistance exercise plus either balance training or whole body vibration and researchers found both groups improved some balance measures with no difference between groups.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 57 women · 39 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with fibromyalgia did core strengthening or stretching exercise twice weekly for four weeks; both groups reported improved symptoms, with no significant difference between groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 4 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone density did 9 months of resistance training plus either whole body vibration or balance training; vibration produced greater gains in jump power.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 57 women · 36 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Over 10 weeks, sedentary postmenopausal women doing aerobic and strength training with or without whole-body electrostimulation improved strength, agility and speed, with added cardiovascular benefit from electrostimulation.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 34 women · 10 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
In 32 postmenopausal women aged 62 to 75, six weeks of stair climbing, electrostimulation, or both increased leg strength and vertical jump, with combined training also affecting bone density.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 32 women · 6 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 12 months of leg strength training with or without whole body vibration, and the vibration group showed greater leg strength gains and fewer falls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 151 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of resistance training with normal or higher protein intake; higher protein gave a small added gain in walking speed but not strength or lean mass quality.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 47 women · 10 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women did 12 weeks of vibration training or conventional strength training, with vibration improving postural sway and both groups gaining knee strength.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 12 weeks · 2010Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did 12 months of vibration or resistance training, bone density was maintained in all groups, and resistance training improved quality of life and postural control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 52 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
Older postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of resistance training three times weekly; the training group showed greater gains in upper and lower limb endurance and dynamic balance than controls, but no coordination difference.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 49 women · 12 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of twice-weekly resistance training, and both groups increased muscle strength equally, with quality of life and balance improving only in the group without added light therapy.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 34 women · 8 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, 12 weeks of balance and coordination training improved balance, while strengthening exercise improved pain, and no falls occurred during follow-up.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of resistance training with different load-order schemes and both approaches improved strength, sit-to-stand power and walking speed similarly.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 24 women · 24 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
In 39 middle-aged women, 12 weeks of single-leg strength training produced crossover strength and balance gains in the untrained leg, stronger when the non-dominant leg trained.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 39 women · 12 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
In 71 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of HIIT Nordic walking increased lean mass and lower limb strength, while strength training reduced fat mass and improved upper limb strength and walking speed.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In pre, peri and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of low-impact resistance training improved hip strength, balance, flexibility and lean mass equally regardless of menopause status.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Thirty-six middle-aged women with sarcopenia did 12 weeks of resistance exercise with or without nitrate supplementation after knee surgery, and nitrate plus exercise improved muscle mass and strength more.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
A 6-month adapted exercise program in 44 postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures improved quality of life, fear of falling, balance, gait, and functional exercise capacity compared with controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 44 women · 26 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
In a follow-up of 33 postmenopausal Korean women with osteosarcopenia, six months after stopping resistance or home exercise, muscle strength, gait speed and bone density declined while muscle mass stayed stable.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 33 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Postmenopausal women on alendronate did resistance training, judo, water aerobics or no exercise for 12 months; resistance training and judo groups showed greater gains in spine bone density, balance and quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 35 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
In healthy older postmenopausal women receiving estrogen, muscle mass adjusted for body mass predicted physical performance measures like walking speed better than muscle mass adjusted for height.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 189 women · 2007PostmenopausalCited 72 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did a 6-week lower body strength training program, and those also on hormone replacement showed improved gait balance, while strength gains were not statistically significant in either group.
Mixed resultsControlled trial · 31 women · 6 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 19 weeks of community-based high- and odd-impact, resistance and balance training and showed reduced body fat and modest bone density gains but no change in strength or balance.
No difference foundControlled trial · 22 women · 19 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In 21 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, a 12-month program of home strength training plus alendronate, calcium and vitamin D improved balance, muscle strength and spine and hip bone density.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 21 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
Over six weeks, postmenopausal obese women doing aquatic resistance, balance and proprioceptive training showed greater improvements in strength, balance and ankle-foot alignment than land-based exercise.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 143 women · 6 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did a 6-month weighted-vest and education program, with high adherence and improved quadriceps strength and hip bone density.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 42 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
A 70 year old postmenopausal woman with osteoporosis did 12 months of power based resistance training and showed increased bone density at the spine and hip and reduced fall risk.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 1 women · 52 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
This narrative review summarized medical literature finding that regular exercise in midlife and postmenopausal women is linked with reduced obesity, cancer, dementia, mood symptoms, and osteoporosis.
Reported an improvementOther · 2015Midlife womenCited 56 timesPubMed
Three elderly women did 40 weeks of jumping, balance and strength exercise, with or without raloxifene, which improved balance, gait speed and leg strength but had limited effect on bone density.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 3 women · 40 weeks · 2002PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
A literature review reported that exercise, especially high impact activities like stepping and jumping, produced modest bone density benefits in postmenopausal women and reduced hip fracture incidence.
Reported an improvementOther · 1999PostmenopausalCited 39 timesPubMed
This protocol describes an 8-month trial testing whether high-intensity resistance and impact training with or without osteoporosis medication changes bone density in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, no results yet.
Direction not statedOther · 160 women · 32 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
This protocol describes a one-year trial in 324 men and postmenopausal women with low bone density comparing moderate versus high intensity resistance training on spine bone density, with no results yet.
Direction not statedOther · 324 women · 52 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
This protocol describes an 8 month trial testing high-intensity resistance and impact exercise combined with romosozumab versus low-intensity exercise in 102 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, results not yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 102 women · 32 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
A position statement concluded regular exercise may reduce bone loss rate and improve muscle strength and balance in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, though less effective than estrogen for bone density.
Reported an improvementOther · 2000PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
A review reported that weight-bearing activity and resistance training may reduce bone loss after menopause, and activities improving strength and balance may lower fall and fracture risk.
Reported an improvementOther · 1998Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed
A pilot RCT protocol will test a 9-month high-intensity resistance and impact training program in 40 perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women, assessing feasibility and bone, muscle and function measures.
Direction not statedOther · 40 women · 36 weeks · 2025PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
This review reported that both aerobic exercise and weight training help maintain or build bone density in postmenopausal women, with weight training also improving strength and balance.
Reported an improvementOther · 1999PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
This article argued sarcopenia often begins at menopause and discussed resistance training, diet and early diagnosis as low-risk interventions during midlife.
Direction not statedOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
This protocol describes a trial testing whole-body vibration, high-intensity resistance and impact training, or both, over 9 months in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, measuring hip bone density.
Direction not statedOther · 36 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A primary care guideline review recommended adults 50 and older, including postmenopausal women, do balance, functional, and resistance training twice weekly to help manage fracture risk.
Direction not statedOther · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A review reported that combined muscle strengthening, aerobic, progressive resistance and high impact exercise programs were linked to increased bone mineral density, and balance exercises reduced falls in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Reported an improvementOther · 2014PostmenopausalPubMed