Does walking affect menopause symptoms overall in menopause? What 8 studies found

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 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

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

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 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

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