A meta-analysis of 11 trials found mind-body exercises like tai chi, yoga, and qigong improved bone density, sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and fatigue in peri- and postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,005 participants pooled · 2024Midlife womenCited 40 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of six trials found tai chi exercise did not significantly reduce bone mineral density loss at the lumbar spine or femoral neck in postmenopausal women.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 350 participants pooled · 2017PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 20 trials in postmenopausal women found Tai Chi, Baduanjin and related traditional Chinese exercises improved bone mineral density more than no exercise, with Tai Chi rated most effective overall.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,933 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 16 trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found traditional Chinese exercise improved bone mineral density, pain, balance, and quality of life versus conventional care alone.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,288 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 10 RCTs found tai chi exercise significantly affected spine bone density compared with no treatment, but the effect was minimal and evidence was of low quality.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 2016Midlife womenCited 31 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 studies in 1,272 postmenopausal women found Tai Chi increased vertebral bone density and health status scores, with no significant effect on falls or balance.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,272 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 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 network meta-analysis of 55 trials in postmenopausal women found multicomponent and mind-body training ranked highest for improving bone density at various sites.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 3,453 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs found progressive exercise training, including resistance, aerobic, impact, vibration and tai chi, improved bone mineral density and, in some studies, quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs with 1023 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found Traditional Chinese Exercise reduced menopausal symptoms and depression and improved spine bone density, but not quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,023 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A review of six controlled studies found Tai Chi practice was linked to slower bone mineral density loss and higher bone density compared with sedentary postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2007PostmenopausalCited 61 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 15 RCTs with 1018 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found traditional Chinese exercises such as Ba Duanjin improved lumbar spine bone density and reduced pain versus controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,018 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
A systematic review found tai chi did not consistently improve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women compared with no treatment, calcium, or resistance training.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2008PostmenopausalCited 46 timesPubMed
A systematic review of randomized trials found exercise, including Tai Chi, aerobic exercise and pilates, improved bone mineral density and quality of life in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2020PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did Tai Chi Chun 5 days a week for 12 months and showed significantly slower bone loss in the distal tibia than sedentary controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 132 women · 52 weeks · 2004Early postmenopausalCited 114 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did 6 months of Tai Chi with or without green tea extract; both increased bone formation markers and improved muscle strength.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 150 women · 26 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 78 timesPubMed
In 86 postmenopausal osteopenic women, nine months of Tai Chi training did not significantly change hip or spine bone density overall, but improved balance sway measures versus usual care.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 86 women · 39 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 5 trials found tai chi improved bodily pain, general health, vitality, mental health and spine bone density in perimenopausal women, but not physical or social function.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2017PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women did 12 weeks of Baduanjin qigong and showed reduced inflammatory marker IL-6 and maintained bone mineral density compared to a no-training control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 87 women · 12 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 68 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women who practiced a modified Eight-Section Brocade exercise for 12 months, with or without calcium, had increased bone density, less back pain and better balance than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 198 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed
An umbrella review of 18 systematic reviews found tai chi practice was associated with improved bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and femoral neck in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, with low certainty.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2023Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women doing simplified Tai Chi resistance training or traditional Tai Chi for 12 months maintained lumbar bone density, while a non-exercising control group lost bone density.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 119 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
This trial protocol will test whether 9 months of Tai Chi reduces bone turnover and affects bone density in 86 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, compared with standard care, results not yet reported.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 86 women · 39 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
In 614 postmenopausal women at high osteoporosis risk, two years of tai chi or calcium and vitamin D supplementation were linked to differing changes in grip strength and bone turnover markers across groups.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 614 women · 104 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
A review of 6 RCTs found strength training and walking improved bone density and lean mass in early postmenopausal women, but no exercise type improved these outcomes during perimenopause.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2025PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women aged 45 to 55 practiced Tai Chi Rouli Ball exercise and showed increased spine bone density and bone mineral content along with higher estrogen levels compared to a no-intervention control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 2024PerimenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women did 48 weeks of Tai Chi or brisk walking; Tai Chi increased lumbar spine bone density and walking increased femoral neck density, effects persisting 8 weeks after stopping.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 48 weeks · 2022PerimenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
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