Does resistance training affect menopause symptoms overall in menopause? What 11 studies found

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 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

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 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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