A meta-analysis of 13 RCTs with 1306 women found yoga reduced total menopausal symptoms, including vasomotor and psychological symptoms, compared to no treatment, similar to other exercise.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,306 participants pooled · 2018Midlife womenCited 48 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 24 RCTs in menopausal women found yoga improved menopausal symptoms, sleep, anxiety, depression, BMI and blood pressure, but not hot flushes or quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,028 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 9 timesPubMed
A scoping review of 67 studies covering over 103,000 midlife women found physical activity generally linked to better psychological and social outcomes like mood and quality of life.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 103,826 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 24 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 18 trials found that yoga, tai chi, meditation and relaxation practices often improved overall menopausal symptoms, hot flushes, mood, sleep and musculoskeletal pain.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 882 participants pooled · 2010Midlife womenCited 58 timesPubMed
A review of 23 studies found exercise-based and mind-body interventions improved quality of life, menopausal symptoms and depression in Asian perimenopausal women, but not hot flashes.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2020PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
An overview of 17 reviews covering 80 studies found yoga improved physical, urogenital, and total menopause symptoms, while aerobic exercise findings were inconclusive.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 8,983 participants pooled · 2024Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
A review of eight randomised trials in climacteric women found aerobic exercise improved menopause symptoms and quality of life, while resistance training strengthened muscles and increased bone density.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
A review of workplace interventions for menopausal women aged 40 to 60 found Raja yoga and health promotion programs including physical training significantly improved menopausal symptoms.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 293 participants pooled · 2023Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 trials with 1,050 women found exercise and mind-body exercise improved menopausal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared with controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,050 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
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 meta-analysis of eight RCTs in postmenopausal women found 12 weeks of exercise improved sexuality and psychological menopause symptoms but not vasomotor symptoms.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,127 participants pooled · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
In breast cancer patients with treatment induced menopause, physical exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy reduced endocrine and urinary symptoms and improved physical functioning over 6 months compared with a waiting list.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 422 women · 26 weeks · 2012Midlife womenCited 163 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 11 studies in peri and postmenopausal women found pelvic floor and mind-body exercise programs most linked to improved sexual function, while aerobic exercise showed inconsistent results and resistance training showed no benefit.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed
A systematic review of seven studies found insufficient rigorous evidence that yoga reduces menopausal symptoms compared with walking, exercise or no treatment.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2009Midlife womenCited 46 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.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 194 women · 32 weeks · 2013Midlife womenCited 146 timesPubMed
164 previously low-active midlife women did walking, yoga, or no exercise for 4 months; walking and yoga groups reported improved positive mood and menopause-related quality of life.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 164 women · 16 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 138 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with insomnia practiced yoga for 4 months and reported lower insomnia severity and climacteric symptoms and higher quality of life than control or stretching groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 16 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 124 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
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
In a yearlong trial, 173 overweight postmenopausal women doing moderate-intensity exercise versus stretching had increased hot flash severity and less memory problems, with no other symptom changes.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2004PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed
In 120 perimenopausal women, 8 weeks of yoga reduced vasomotor symptoms, stress and neuroticism more than a supervised physical exercise control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 120 women · 8 weeks · 2008PerimenopausalCited 67 timesPubMed
In 164 previously low-active midlife women, 4 months of walking or yoga did not significantly improve perceived sleep quality compared to a control group.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 164 women · 16 weeks · 2007Midlife womenCited 63 timesPubMed
A scoping review of 77 walking programs for menopausal and postmenopausal women, ranging from 4 weeks to 3 years, found 91% reported a beneficial outcome on at least one menopause related issue.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed
Sedentary midlife women walking four times weekly for 24 weeks showed no overall symptom improvement versus controls, but more frequent walking was linked to better sleep.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 173 women · 24 weeks · 2005Midlife womenCited 60 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 49 to 55 took hormone therapy or placebo, each with or without exercise, and researchers found exercise improved bone density mainly in the placebo group, with no added effect when combined with estrogen.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 104 weeks · 1997PostmenopausalCited 83 timesPubMed
Among 113 midlife women in a physical activity trial, increased activity was linked to fewer general menopause symptoms but not to vasomotor or sexual symptoms specifically.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 113 women · 2009Midlife womenCited 57 timesPubMed
In an 88 woman 12 week RCT, postmenopausal women practicing Hatha yoga reported lower menopausal symptom and depression scores and higher quality of life than control and exercise groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 88 women · 12 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women with osteopenia doing high-intensity weight-bearing resistance training three times weekly for about 13 months improved spine bone density, lean mass, body fat, strength and menopausal symptoms versus low-intensity controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 54 women · 56 weeks · 2021Early postmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
Peri and postmenopausal women practiced yoga for 20 weeks and researchers found reduced menopausal symptoms and improved sleep quality compared with controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 208 women · 20 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 28 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
In 176 recently postmenopausal sedentary women, unsupervised aerobic training four times weekly for 24 weeks reduced night sweats, mood swings, and irritability more than health lectures.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 154 women · 24 weeks · 2012Early postmenopausalCited 32 timesPubMed
In a 12-week RCT of early menopausal women, aerobic exercise alone and combined with nutrition education reduced menopause symptom scores and improved quality of life more than control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 108 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed
In 44 postmenopausal women after hysterectomy, 6 months of moderate aerobic exercise improved quality of life and reduced menopausal symptoms regardless of whether estrogen therapy was also taken.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 26 weeks · 2008PostmenopausalCited 43 timesPubMed
Women 45 to 60 with breast cancer history who got a 12-week lifestyle program including physical activity reported greater reductions in menopausal symptoms and improved quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 55 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 34 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did periodized high intensity resistance and impact exercise for a year, and spine bone density was maintained versus a significant decline in the non-exercise control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 128 women · 52 weeks · 2010Early postmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did exercise plus Mediterranean diet, with or without soy isoflavones, for 24 months; the soy group showed greater drops in fat mass, glucose, insulin and inflammation markers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 104 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
A planned trial will compare cognitive behavioral therapy, physical exercise, and their combination in younger breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopause, assessing menopausal symptoms and quality of life.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 325 women · 26 weeks · 2009OtherCited 21 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women who did supervised aerobic or resistance exercise 3 days a week for 8 weeks reported improved menopausal symptoms, lower depression and better quality of life, with no change in lipid profiles.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 8 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed
A 12-month supervised program of cardiorespiratory, stretching and strengthening exercise in menopausal women aged 55 to 72 improved quality of life and menopausal symptoms versus a control group that worsened.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 48 women · 52 weeks · 2006Midlife womenCited 32 timesPubMed
In a 3 week RCT of 40 middle-aged Japanese women, 10 minutes of nightly stretching reduced menopausal symptom scores and depressive symptom scores compared with a control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 3 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 26 timesPubMed
A systematic review examined physical activity alongside other complementary approaches used by menopausal women to manage menopause symptoms, calling for more research on safety and effectiveness.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2004Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed
In 112 women aged 45 to 60, a 16-week supervised multicomponent exercise program reduced menopause-related symptom and vasomotor symptom scores more than counseling alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 112 women · 16 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 16 timesPubMed
In 60 women with perimenopausal syndrome, 12 weeks of health education combined with diet and exercise supervision lowered menopausal symptom index scores and increased regular exercise habits versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 12 weeks · 2017PerimenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 6 months of mixed exercise with or without phytoestrogens; quality of life scores improved only in the group combining exercise with phytoestrogens, menopausal symptoms unchanged in both.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 40 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 21 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
In an RCT of 80 menopausal women, one year of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga improved vasomotor, psychosocial and physical quality of life domains more than brisk walking, with no change in reproductive hormones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 52 weeks · 2021Midlife womenCited 13 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women received education, diet guidance, or diet plus resistance exercise for 3 months; all groups reduced climacteric symptom scores, with the combined group showing broad symptom improvement.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 12 weeks · 2022PerimenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women did 1 year of aerobic and resistance exercise with or without soy isoflavones, and both groups showed similar improvements in quality of life and climacteric symptoms.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 31 women · 52 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women, 10 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training reduced climacteric symptoms, with no added benefit from isoflavone supplementation.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 10 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
Women practiced supervised yoga for 90 days; menopause rating scale scores fell significantly across all subscales compared with a no-yoga control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 13 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed
A 3-month web-based physical activity program for 29 Asian American midlife women increased active living habits but did not significantly change menopausal symptom severity scores versus control.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 29 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 12 timesPubMed
A scoping review found one randomized study of a structured aerobic exercise program for menopausal women at work reported slight improvement in workability and mental strain.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did a 12-week Qigong program and reported improved menopausal symptom severity and better health-related quality of life compared to controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 125 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal and early postmenopausal cancer survivors doing a year of aerobic and resistance exercise reported better quality of life at 6 months if taking aromatase inhibitors, but no difference in symptoms overall.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 154 women · 52 weeks · 2019Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed
Peri and postmenopausal Nigerian women did a 12 week endurance exercise circuit, which improved quality of life and reduced back pain compared with no change in controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 175 women · 12 weeks · 2011Midlife womenCited 7 timesPubMed
Previously sedentary postmenopausal women aged 45 to 64 who completed a 20-week exercise plus health promotion program reported improved quality of life, mental well-being, weight, fitness and flexibility versus controls, sustained to 12 months.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal and perimenopausal women received 5 health coaching sessions over 4 months; coaching reduced menopausal symptoms and depression and improved quality of life but did not change physical activity.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 94 women · 16 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
Women treated for cancer with higher self-reported physical activity had lower menopausal symptom scores, but a 12-week digital lifestyle program did not increase physical activity or significantly reduce symptoms versus control.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 280 women · 24 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
In 146 postmenopausal women, 8 sessions of laughter yoga, acupressure, or mindfulness-based stress reduction each reduced menopause rating scale scores and improved quality of life versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 146 women · 8 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of twice-weekly jazz dance; the dance group showed improved menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression and stress scores versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 16 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 25 RCTs found exercise and health education programmes may help perimenopausal women manage symptoms, though study quality and results varied widely.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2026PerimenopausalPubMed
In 330 women aged 45-50 with metabolic syndrome, combined exercise therapy, mineral water, vitamins and physiotherapy reduced psychoemotional menopausal symptoms over 6 months versus conventional treatment alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 330 women · 26 weeks · 2019PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
30 postmenopausal women did an 8-week Pilates program and reported better menopause symptom scores, quality of life, and sexual function scores than controls who only attended information sessions.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 8 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
Menopausal women aged 40 to 60 who practiced yoga twice weekly for 10 weeks reported lower menopause symptom scores than a no-intervention control group.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 62 women · 10 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
In 54 menopausal women, combining time-restricted eating with resistance and endurance circuit training reduced menopausal symptoms and improved quality of life more than exercise alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 54 women · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Women aged 40 to 65 followed a 12 week web-based lifestyle program including exercise goal-setting, and reported reduced anxiety, depression, hot flushes and sexual dysfunction.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 225 women · 12 weeks · 2015Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
Thirty-eight postmenopausal women with hot flushes did 12 weeks of combined resistance and walking exercise, and reported reduced vasomotor symptom severity and improved sleep and mood versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
In 70 perimenopausal women, a 12 week daily Ping Shuai Qigong program improved climacteric symptoms and sleep quality at 6 and 12 weeks compared to a control group.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 70 women · 12 weeks · 2012PerimenopausalCited 31 timesPubMed
Women over 40 with celiac disease combined a gluten-free diet with resistance exercise for 12 weeks and reported improved urogenital symptoms and higher vigour mood scores versus diet alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Menopausal women doing yoga three times weekly for 24 weeks with psychological support showed reduced depression, anxiety, menopausal distress and improved sleep quality versus controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 106 women · 24 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
Breast cancer survivors took part in a 12-week yoga and meditation program and interviews afterward described positive emotional, physical and behavioral experiences with the intervention.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 9 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In Australian women aged 45 to 55 followed for about three years, increases in physical activity were linked to increases in HDL cholesterol and wellbeing.
Reported a worseningCohort study · 292 women · 156 weeks · 1997Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
In a population survey of Finnish women aged 45 to 64, physically active women reported fewer somatic menopausal symptoms than sedentary women, though this was not from a randomized trial.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 1,427 women · 2010Midlife womenCited 98 timesPubMed
Over 16 weeks, 70 postmenopausal women did jazz dance or concurrent training; menopausal symptoms improved over time in all groups, including controls, with no difference between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 70 women · 16 weeks · 2026Early postmenopausalPubMed
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
Sixty-four postmenopausal women received self-care education combined with laughter yoga, which authors reported reduced menopausal symptoms, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol compared to controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 64 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Perimenopausal women did six weeks of high-intensity resistance training with or without creatine; creatine was linked to higher sleep consistency and prefrontal oxygenation gains versus placebo.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 51 women · 6 weeks · 2026PerimenopausalPubMed
An 8 week high-intensity functional exercise program improved physical performance, dual-task performance and menopausal symptom scores in postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 compared with controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 8 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
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
Menopausal women attended eight weekly cognitive-behavioral sessions including relaxation, exercise and diet, and reported significant reductions in physical and psychological symptoms and improved quality of life.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 28 women · 8 weeks · 2009Midlife womenCited 4 timesPubMed
33 perimenopausal women did a cross-over sports therapy program and reported lower menopause symptom scores and depressive mood scores compared to a control telephone-intervention phase.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 33 women · 2024PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Among 305 Turkish women aged 45 to 60, physically active women reported lower total menopausal symptom scores, including sleep, sexual, joint and psychological symptoms, than less active women.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 305 women · 2014Midlife womenCited 22 timesPubMed
In a postal survey of midlife Australian women, exercise was associated with fewer somatic and psychological symptoms including depression and anxiety, but not with hot flushes or sexual function.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 2006Midlife womenCited 56 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 controlled trial of 102 sedentary climacteric women with metabolic syndrome found 24 months of Shivam Yoga reduced fasting glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference and menopausal symptom scores.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 102 women · 104 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A 6-week health education and exercise program for Japanese menopausal women improved general health perception and physical quality of life but did not improve climacteric symptoms.
No difference foundBefore-and-after study · 39 women · 6 weeks · 2009Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed
Perimenopausal women received a 12-week combined traditional Chinese medicine program including tai chi, herbs and counseling, and menopause-specific quality of life scores improved.
No difference foundControlled trial · 12 weeks · 2011PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In 200 postmenopausal Iranian women aged 45 to 55, confidence and emotional factors predicted starting and sticking with regular physical activity linked to menopausal quality of life.
Direction not statedCross-sectional study · 200 women · 2022PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
In a 6-month personalized lifestyle program, 75 women aged 35 to 55 reported reduced waist circumference, lower diastolic blood pressure and improved menopausal symptoms and physical activity.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 75 women · 26 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
Across MsFLASH trials of over 1,300 women, researchers found yoga or exercise did not reduce hot flashes compared with usual activity.
Direction not statedOther · 1,300 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
Women in the menopausal transition completed a 10 week yoga program and reported changes in menopause symptoms and quality of life.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 10 weeks · 2015PerimenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Midlife women who had done a walking and yoga trial were surveyed two years later; increased physical activity and fewer menopausal symptoms were linked to higher menopause-related quality of life.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 79 timesPubMed
A review of trials in menopausal women reported that aerobic exercise and yoga were linked to improved mood, quality of life, insomnia and some vasomotor symptoms compared with no exercise.
Direction not statedOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 66 timesPubMed
A planned 16-week, 3 sessions per week exercise program in 150 perimenopausal women will assess cost-effectiveness and effects on fitness, sleep and menopause symptoms, results not yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 150 women · 16 weeks · 2015PerimenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
A UK survey of 655 women and focus groups with 24 women found activity levels often decreased during menopause, and symptoms negatively influenced motivation to exercise for over half of participants.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 655 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
In 94 women aged 45 to 55, a random forest model found moderate physical activity was a moderately important factor among predictors of menopausal symptom severity.
Mixed resultsCross-sectional study · 94 women · 2025Midlife womenPubMed
In breast cancer patients with treatment-induced menopausal symptoms, physical exercise was less cost-effective than cognitive behavioral therapy and did not outperform a waiting list for hot flush relief.
Reported an improvementOther · 2015Midlife womenCited 29 timesPubMed
22 menopausal women completed a 12-week workplace exercise programme of body conditioning, Zumba Gold, Pilates and HIIT, with authors reporting favourable changes in body fat, fitness, menopause symptoms and mental health.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 22 women · 12 weeks · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
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
In menopausal women, higher physical activity was linked to fewer menopause symptoms, which in turn related to better quality of life, in a modelling study of 86 women.
Reported an improvementOther · 86 women · 2025Midlife womenPubMed
This article discussed how physical activity can reduce menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular disease risk in women, but intervention programs are often not sustainable.
Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
In interviews, 18 women aged 40 to 60 described using strength training, yoga and cold-water immersion to navigate menopause, reporting symptom relief, self-awareness and identity development.
Reported an improvementOther · 18 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
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