A meta-analysis of 29 RCTs in 2071 women with breast cancer found combined aerobic and resistance training improved fitness, fatigue and quality of life, with smaller benefits in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,071 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Breast cancer surgery patients did an 8-month exercise program delivered face to face or by phone, reporting better quality of life, fitness and fatigue than usual care, with no difference in other side effects.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 194 women · 32 weeks · 2013Midlife womenCited 146 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors with hot flashes did an 8 week Yoga of Awareness program and reported greater improvements in hot flash frequency, severity, joint pain, fatigue and sleep than a wait-list group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 37 women · 8 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 182 timesPubMed
A systematic review of seventeen studies found physical activity was associated with improved overall and breast cancer specific survival, with possibly greater benefit in older or postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2013Midlife womenCited 32 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal fatigued breast cancer survivors did 12 weeks of Qigong or Tai Chi Easy versus sham Qigong; fatigue decreased more with active practice but depression and sleep did not differ.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 87 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 119 timesPubMed
A 12 week Pilates program in postmenopausal women aged 60 plus improved sleep quality, anxiety, depression and fatigue scores versus a control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 110 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 87 timesPubMed
Older breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors did nine months of combined resistance and aerobic exercise, which improved quality of life, fatigue and sleep compared with a control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 36 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 89 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors averaging age 49 did 12 weeks of Hatha yoga and meditation, reporting lower menopausal symptoms, less fatigue, and better quality of life than usual care at 12 and 24 weeks.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 84 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 3 months of walking plus resistance band training; fatigue effect sizes were small and not statistically significant, with inflammatory markers mediating change.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 46 women · 12 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 70 timesPubMed
In 62 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors, a 6-week home walking program reported reduced stiffness and less difficulty with daily activities compared with a wait-list group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 62 women · 6 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 61 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors did a 12-month remote diet and physical activity weight loss program and reported greater reductions in weight, fat mass, waist size, glucose and musculoskeletal pain than usual care.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 159 women · 52 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 40 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 3 months of walking and resistance band training; the exercise group reported fewer hours of sleep per night versus control, mediated by inflammation and fatigue.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 46 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 47 timesPubMed
Women averaging age 53 with stress urinary incontinence did 12 weeks of pelvic floor muscle training, alone or combined with transversus abdominis training, improving quality of life in both groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 137 women · 12 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 30 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women who walked briskly three or more times weekly for 12 weeks reported greater reductions in menopausal symptom scores, cholesterol, triglycerides and weight than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 111 women · 12 weeks · 2014PerimenopausalCited 35 timesPubMed
Inactive postmenopausal breast cancer survivors using a wearable-based activity program for 12 weeks reported small fatigue improvements but no change in overall quality of life versus a waitlist group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 83 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia did 21 weeks of combined strength and endurance training, which improved leg strength, workload, walking and stair climbing, and fatigue.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 21 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 44 timesPubMed
23 sedentary postmenopausal women did a 6 week walking program then either continued or stopped exercising, with continued exercisers reporting better mood, anxiety and quality of life at follow up.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 23 women · 12 weeks · 2006PostmenopausalCited 37 timesPubMed
In 34 obese postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis, an 8-week dance-based aquatic exercise program improved function, cardiorespiratory capacity and fatigue more than a standard aquatic program, with benefits partly maintained at 3 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 8 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
Breast cancer patients did 16 weeks of resistance plus HIIT or aerobic plus HIIT during chemotherapy; at 5 years fatigue did not differ from usual care, but gluteal pain sensitivity was reduced with resistance HIIT.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 240 women · 16 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
Twenty postmenopausal women did high-intensity treadmill training for 3 months, and researchers reported added infrared light improved muscle power and reduced leg fatigue versus training alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
In 40 breast cancer survivors with menopausal symptoms, a 24-week yoga program's benefits on menopausal symptoms, quality of life and fatigue were partly explained by increases in self-esteem.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 24 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
Occupationally active menopausal women with symptoms did 24 weeks of aerobic exercise, which increased perceived mental resources and reduced physical strain but did not change overall work ability scores.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 123 women · 24 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 15 timesPubMed
Inactive women aged 30 to 65 at risk for metabolic syndrome did 6 weeks of sprint interval training and reported increased vitality and fewer physical limitations without worsened mood, compared to controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 6 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
In 36 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 12 weeks of resistance training increased strength by about 25 to 35% and fatigue decreased, alongside changes in kynurenine metabolism markers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal cancer survivors who did 6 months of strength training had higher odds of reducing frailty than a stretching control group, while tai ji quan reduced fatigue more.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 386 women · 26 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 who did 6 months of treadmill training combined with infrared light therapy showed greater quadriceps power and less fatigue than treadmill training alone or sedentary controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 26 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of jazz dance or concurrent aerobic and resistance training; both reduced anxiety, depression and stress, with some differences in timing and mood domains.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
Twelve postmenopausal women performing different aquatic exercise movements showed lower blood pressure responses with a rocking motion than running or scissor kicks at matched perceived exertion.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 12 women · 2015PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal cancer survivors over 6 months, strength training reduced overall frailty more than stretching controls, while tai chi reduced fewer frailty criteria overall but helped fatigue.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 386 women · 26 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalPubMed
In 1440 postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer, those reporting higher physical activity had longer progression-free survival, fewer treatment side effects, and better quality of life and fatigue.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 1,440 women · 2024PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
In 66 early postmenopausal women, eight weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training, delivered in person or via app, reduced menopausal symptoms, fatigue, and improved sleep versus education alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 66 women · 8 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalPubMed
In breast cancer survivors aged 35 to 68 starting a one year exercise trial, higher physical activity correlated with better quality of life, while fatigue and depression were linked to worse quality of life.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 537 women · 2011Midlife womenCited 75 timesPubMed
In 140 Iranian women, an educational program promoting physical activity based on a behavior change model reduced sleep problems, depression, irritability and anxiety two months later.
Mixed resultsControlled trial · 140 women · 8 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
In 10 postmenopausal women, 2 weeks of beetroot juice nitrate supplementation increased time to fatigue during static handgrip exercise compared with placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 10 women · 2 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 16 weeks of whole-body resistance training and showed increased muscle strength, reduced fatigue, improved quality of life, and lower inflammatory markers.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 11 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with joint pain from aromatase inhibitors did group tai chi twice weekly for 8 weeks and reported improved anxiety, depression, fatigue and emotional wellbeing, with no significant change in pain or balance.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 12 women · 8 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
A quasi-experimental trial found 6 to 24 months of Shivam Yoga practice in women aged 40-65 reduced climacteric symptom scores and increased estrogen and testosterone levels versus controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 182 women · 104 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A pilot lifestyle programme adapted for midlife women with HIV, ages 40 to 59, reported increased physical activity, cardiovascular disease knowledge, and improved fatigue and mental health.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 14 women · 2021Midlife womenCited 8 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.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 27 women · 2002PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Seven postmenopausal cancer survivors did a weekly 12-week hypopressive exercise program, with improved lower limb strength and a small, non-significant decrease in cancer-related fatigue.
No difference foundBefore-and-after study · 7 women · 12 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Twenty-five postmenopausal women did a 6-minute walk test and treadmill task; slower oxygen uptake kinetics correlated with higher fatigue and mood disturbance, and older women had lower aerobic capacity.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 25 women · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
Twenty active postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of cycling HIIT and researchers found improved fat oxidation, efficiency, and power output, with no change in basal metabolic rate or body composition.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 20 women · 6 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In middle-aged women around 50 performing heavy leg press resistance exercise, maximal force dropped about 31% after loading and remained reduced two hours later, recovering by two days.
Reported a worseningOther · 23 women · 1995Midlife womenCited 28 timesPubMed
A narrative review of psychological and mind-body approaches, including yoga, found empirical support for improving quality of life and symptoms like hot flushes and sleep during menopause.
Reported an improvementOther · 2024Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
A planned 18 week yoga program will be tested against a waitlist control for musculoskeletal complaints in women on endocrine therapy for breast cancer, with results not yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 140 women · 18 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Interviews with 26 postmenopausal breast and gynecologic cancer survivors found they preferred flexible, at-home physical activity like walking, dancing and muscle-strengthening during and after treatment.
Direction not statedOther · 26 women · 2024PostmenopausalPubMed