A meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials in menopausal women found exercise improved body fat, waist circumference, triglycerides, and lumbar spine bone density compared with no exercise.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 792 participants pooled · 2018Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis combining studies with quality scores estimated an overall positive effect of physical activity on preventing spinal bone density loss in healthy postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1998PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 studies with 9836 postmenopausal women found leisure time physical activity did not significantly increase bone mineral density overall, though it may help maintain bone mass depending on activity type.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 9,836 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 28 studies in Chinese women 40 and older found regular exercise was associated with lower odds of abnormal bone mineral density, alongside other lifestyle factors.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 36,984 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A meta-analysis of 37 studies in postmenopausal women found lack of exercise was associated with increased osteoporosis risk, while regular exercise showed no significant protective association.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 32,366 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A systematic review of pQCT studies found exercise modestly improved bone mass and geometry in postmenopausal women, with the biggest changes from high-impact loading exercise.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2010PostmenopausalCited 91 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low vitamin D took placebo or cholecalciferol for a year, and researchers found no differences in bone density, muscle mass, muscle function or falls between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 230 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 117 timesPubMed
A review of twelve intervention studies found that physical activity generally had a positive effect on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, though the ideal exercise type remained unclear.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2018PostmenopausalCited 27 timesPubMed
A review of 34 osteoporosis guidelines found most encourage moderate to high intensity therapeutic exercise, though specific exercise prescriptions were rarely detailed.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2021PostmenopausalCited 23 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
Premenopausal women aged 25 to 44 given bone density feedback and education showed bone density change linked to persistent self-reported increases in physical activity over 2 years.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 470 women · 104 weeks · 2006OtherCited 48 timesPubMed
In 1008 older women, those with higher habitual physical activity and calcium intake had 3 to 5 percent greater hip bone strength measures than those with lower levels.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 1,008 women · 52 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
203 postmenopausal women received personal bone density results or not over 18 months; receiving the results increased calcium intake but did not change exercise levels.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 203 women · 78 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 29 timesPubMed
Urban Malaysian women aged 45 plus followed a lifestyle intervention for 18 to 20 months, which slowed postmenopausal spine and hip bone loss compared with controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 279 women · 80 weeks · 2005Midlife womenCited 28 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal Korean women who completed a 12-week lifestyle program combining exercise, education and calcium-vitamin D supplementation showed greater improvements in bone health knowledge and behaviors than controls.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 41 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed
In women aged 40 to 55 on chemotherapy for breast cancer, a home-based physical activity program was less effective than zoledronic acid at preventing bone mineral density loss over 12 months.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 62 women · 52 weeks · 2009OtherCited 28 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did a 12-week exercise program and showed significant changes in blood markers of bone enzyme activity compared to before treatment.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 74 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
In a 9-year follow-up of peri-menopausal women from an exercise trial, hormone therapy use, not the original exercise program, was linked to maintained bone mineral content, while fitness declined with age regardless.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 80 women · 468 weeks · 2005PerimenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
In women aged 50 to 75 over two years, calcium supplements reduced spinal and hip bone loss only in those with lower physical activity, not in those with higher activity levels.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 418 women · 104 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women randomized to physical training, hormone replacement therapy, or control for 18 months showed that both training and HRT prevented spine bone density loss seen in the control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 78 weeks · 2005PerimenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women aged 30 to 35 took dietary calcium or calcium citrate plus physical activity three times weekly for seven months; researchers measured changes in biochemical bone markers.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 82 women · 30 weeks · 2005PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In a 6-month RCT, moderate physical exercise increased urinary bone collagen crosslinks and improved muscle strength and flexibility in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 70 women · 26 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
In 135 postmenopausal women followed one year, physical activity and drug use were significant factors associated with lumbar spine bone density increasing rather than declining.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 135 women · 52 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
In 146 postmenopausal women followed about 3 years, forearm bone density declined less in those who exercised regularly than in irregular exercisers or controls, but only 48% complied regularly.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 146 women · 156 weeks · 1995PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
In a 25-year study, postmenopausal women who were moderately physically active had slower forearm bone loss than inactive women.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 112 women · 2014PostmenopausalCited 12 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.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 33 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In 160 postmenopausal women, an education program promoting walking and nutrition was linked to increased lumbar spine bone density at 12 months versus a control group whose density decreased.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 160 women · 52 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women followed 5 years, bone density fell after stopping hormone therapy and in never-users, while usual physical activity did not noticeably change bone loss in any group.
No difference foundCohort study · 961 women · 260 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
In 309 Australian women aged 36 to 57, higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, but not sedentary time, was associated with better bone density, leg strength and functional mobility.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 309 women · 2017Midlife womenCited 39 timesPubMed
In 580 postmenopausal English women, stair climbing and brisk walking pace, but not total activity, were linked to higher bone density at the hip and whole body.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 580 women · 1999PostmenopausalCited 47 timesPubMed
In women aged 45 to 53, recent physical activity was one of the strongest correlates of calcaneal ultrasound bone measures and femoral neck bone density.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 393 women · 1999Midlife womenCited 36 timesPubMed
Over 2 years in 223 early postmenopausal women, certain physical activity domains like transport and domestic activity were inversely linked to bone density measures.
Reported a worseningCohort study · 223 women · 104 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In a cross-sectional survey of 254 postmenopausal Kenyan women, researchers found no statistically significant association between exercise and osteoporosis prevalence.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 254 women · 2020PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
Among 340 early postmenopausal women, physical activity level was not significantly associated with biochemical markers of bone turnover.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 340 women · 2001Early postmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
In 50 postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, current physical activity measured by accelerometer and questionnaire was positively associated with femoral neck bone density and tibial microarchitecture.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 50 women · 2020PostmenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
In a 52-week pilot study of 50 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, a home exercise app produced greater gains in hip bone density and quality of life than a pamphlet.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 50 women · 52 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In 234 postmenopausal women, higher leisure physical activity scores were linked to greater cortical bone mass and strength at the radius and tibia.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 234 women · 2010PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed
Among 500 women in Sindh screened for bone density, those reporting regular exercise had over five times lower prevalence of osteoporosis than those without.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 500 women · 2016Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
In 27 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, higher physical activity correlated with greater vigor and vitality, but no relationship was found between activity level and bone density.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 27 women · 2002PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
In severely obese women, researchers found physical activity of 150 minutes or more per week was associated with higher hip bone mineral density.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 104 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
In a cross-sectional NHANES study of postmenopausal women, high physical activity combined with moderate sleep duration was associated with the lowest odds of osteoporosis.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 4,775 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A review of trials and cohort studies found physical activity slows bone loss in postmenopausal women in a dose dependent manner and may increase bone mineral density.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009PostmenopausalCited 58 timesPubMed
This review examined human exercise trials in older and postmenopausal women and found that exercise programs that increase bone size in younger people often fail to do so in elderly bone.
No difference foundOther · 2012PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
A review reported that habitual running and aerobic exercise were linked to higher bone density, better fitness, lower blood pressure and reduced coronary risk in women including postmenopausal groups.
Reported an improvementOther · 1991Midlife womenCited 29 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 review reported that long-term exercise programmes, especially weight-bearing activities, reduce age-related bone loss in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 2012PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
This narrative review reported that weight-bearing and resistance physical activity is linked to greater bone density, while replacing sedentary time with light activity benefits bone health in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
A narrative review reported that resistance training and weight-bearing activities like running or walking increased bone mineral density in young people and slowed bone density decline in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 1995PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
A review on nonhormonal menopause management discussed evidence for diet and exercise in preventing osteoporosis and managing menopause symptoms, without giving specific outcome data.
Direction not statedOther · 2004Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
A review synthesized evidence on combining structured exercise with functional foods and supplements like vitamin D in postmenopausal women, finding the clinical evidence for bone and quality of life benefits remains heterogeneous.
Mixed resultsOther · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
A review of cross-sectional and prospective studies found that exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, increased or preserved bone mineral content in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 1995PostmenopausalPubMed