A review of seven trials with 400 women found exercise therapies showed very uncertain or little effect on joint pain, stiffness, grip strength or quality of life from aromatase inhibitor side effects.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 400 participants pooled · 2020PostmenopausalCited 36 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 19 trials in postmenopausal women found adding exercise to medicine or supplements improved lumbar spine bone density, leg muscle strength, balance, and quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,249 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 27 RCTs in women aged 40 to 60 found exercise improved lean body mass and grip and knee strength, with resistance training three times weekly for at least six weeks most effective.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,989 participants pooled · 2023Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis found whey protein combined with resistance training improved biceps strength and lower limb lean mass in postmenopausal women, but had no benefit without resistance training.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2022PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of seven trials, median 38 weeks, found creatine supplementation, especially with resistance training, modestly increased lean mass and leg-press strength in postmenopausal women without changing bone density.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 608 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 11 trials in women aged 60 and over with sarcopenic obesity found exercise reduced body fat percentage and improved muscle mass and handgrip strength, with no change in gait speed.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 532 participants pooled · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 14 trials with 763 women across reproductive stages found protein, amino acid or creatine supplementation added to exercise did not improve muscle mass or bone density but improved bench press and handgrip strength.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 763 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
Early postmenopausal women doing 12 months of jumping exercise, with or without alendronate, showed no change in spine or hip bone density but improved leg power, balance and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 164 women · 52 weeks · 2003Early postmenopausalCited 117 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 113 institutionalized elderly women over 6 months, whole body vibration training did not improve muscle strength, mass or hip bone density beyond vitamin D supplementation alone.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 113 women · 26 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 80 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women doing resistance training for 12 months with creatine supplementation showed less femoral neck bone loss and greater strength gains than resistance training with placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 33 women · 52 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 61 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women did a 12 month weight loss program with aerobic exercise plus vitamin D3 or placebo, and vitamin D did not improve lean mass or bone density but leg strength decreased more.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 218 women · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
Obese postmenopausal women with high blood pressure did 8 weeks of whole-body vibration training with or without L-citrulline, and vibration training increased leg strength and lowered leg artery stiffness.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 41 women · 8 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 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
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did 52 weeks of hip-targeted strength, balance and jumping exercise with calcium, and showed a small hip bone density benefit plus better quality of life versus controls.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 39 women · 52 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 49 timesPubMed
Over 2 years, postmenopausal women doing resistance training and walking with creatine supplementation showed no extra bone density benefit over placebo, but some bone geometry and lean mass measures improved.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 237 women · 104 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did strength training three times weekly for 12 months, with or without etidronate, and gained muscle strength and lean mass and lost fat, but exercise did not add to bone density gains from the drug.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 48 women · 52 weeks · 2002PostmenopausalCited 46 timesPubMed
In early postmenopausal women doing 24 weeks of strength training, those given a protein and calcium supplement after sessions gained more muscle mass, strength and femoral neck bone density than placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 weeks · 2008Early postmenopausalCited 87 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone density who did whole-body vibration plus calcium and vitamin D for 24 weeks had greater increases in leg muscle work and lumbar and femoral bone density than those taking supplements alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 43 women · 24 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
Over 14 weeks, postmenopausal women doing circuit resistance training with energy-restricted diets and calcium or vitamin D supplements showed improved strength, aerobic capacity and varying body composition changes by diet and supplement combination.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 128 women · 14 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 9 months of resistance training or stretching with ibuprofen or placebo; exercise did not change bone density but increased strength and reduced body fat versus stretching.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 90 women · 36 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 34 studies in postmenopausal women found strength training improved body composition, muscle strength and bone density, while added protein gave no extra strength benefit.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 1,541 participants pooled · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In 32 postmenopausal women, 16 weeks of resistance training with soy protein added to milk increased muscle strength more than resistance training with milk alone, while muscle mass gains were similar.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 32 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed
Over 9 months, postmenopausal women doing resistance training gained muscle mass and strength and limited fat gain, while soy isoflavone supplementation alone did not change body composition.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 71 women · 39 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
In 244 women aged 45 to 65 doing a 4-month resistance exercise program, adding a fortified milk drink gave extra gains in lean mass, bone content and balance but not in muscle strength versus exercise with placebo.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 216 women · 16 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 14 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis did 12 weeks of resistance training with creatine or placebo; creatine group showed greater gains in physical function, lean mass and quality of life.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 52 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of high volume resistance training with or without whey protein, and strength and muscle thickness increased in both groups equally.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 12 women · 10 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed
Osteopenic postmenopausal women took soy protein alone or with 12 weeks of resistance exercise 4 times weekly; the combined group showed greater gains in muscle strength and bone measures.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 12 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed
Hypertensive postmenopausal women did low-intensity resistance training with L-citrulline for 8 weeks and showed improved leg blood vessel function, lean mass and leg strength versus placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 8 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of resistance training with or without DHA supplementation, with training maintaining bone mineral content, increasing lean mass and strength, and improving glucose tolerance.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 36 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
Overweight postmenopausal women who did 6 months of combined resistance and aerobic training increased leg and bench press strength and muscle mass index, with no added benefit from isoflavones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 26 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 12 studies on menopausal sarcopenia reported that 150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise plus resistance training, with protein and vitamin D, was an effective management strategy.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did back extensor exercise with or without eldecalcitol for 24 weeks; eldecalcitol increased quadriceps strength but balance, walking and fall rates did not differ.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 226 women · 24 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Older postmenopausal women did 32 weeks of elastic band resistance training with or without seawater supplementation and researchers found resistance training, not the supplement, drove improved strength and lower body fat.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 93 women · 32 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
In 30 postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of resistance training increased muscle mass and strength, with branched-chain amino acid supplementation not adding further benefit.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 8 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
In middle-aged women, 12 weeks of HMB plus vitamin D combined with resistance training or sedentary behavior reduced fat within muscle but did not change muscle function.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 43 women · 12 weeks · 2022Midlife womenCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women took shatavari or placebo for six weeks; proteomics of leg muscle showed pathway changes the authors said may support muscle adaptation to exercise.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 12 women · 6 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 10 weeks of resistance training with normal or higher protein intake; higher protein gave a small added gain in walking speed but not strength or lean mass quality.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 47 women · 10 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did back extensor exercise with or without added vitamin D3, and strength gains did not differ overall but were greater with D3 in women under 68.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 94 women · 16 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of resistance training 3 times weekly, and both protein timing groups gained lean mass, strength, and walking performance with no difference between groups.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 8 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed
In healthy older women, 8 weeks of resistance training combined with fish oil increased handgrip strength and lowered blood pressure and inflammatory markers more than resistance training with placebo.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 8 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
In 44 postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of resistance training increased upper and lower body muscle strength and power, with no added benefit from vitamin D supplementation.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 44 women · 12 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
In 40 overweight or obese postmenopausal women with low vitamin D, 8 weeks of water-based aerobic training with vitamin D3 improved BMI, grip strength, balance and gait speed more than either alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 40 women · 8 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
In 26 postmenopausal women, 8 weeks of combined exercise with ursolic acid supplementation raised handgrip strength more than exercise with placebo, but waist circumference and other outcomes did not differ.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 8 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
Fourteen postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 took beetroot juice nitrate or placebo for eight days; a 6-minute walk test improved with nitrate but other performance tests did not differ.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 14 women · 1 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
Untrained peri- and postmenopausal women who did 10 weeks of resistance training gained significant strength, with leucine supplementation adding no extra benefit to strength, fat free mass or hormones.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 10 weeks · 2020Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did 12 months of exercise with or without alendronate; exercise raised muscle power, balance and aerobic capacity but gains faded 15 months after stopping.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 102 women · 65 weeks · 2004Early postmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Peri and postmenopausal women and men did 6 weeks of resistance training with a post-workout supplement or carbohydrate only, and the supplement group gained more fat-free mass and lost more fat and waist circumference.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 20 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 3 timesPubMed
Thirty-six middle-aged women with sarcopenia did 12 weeks of resistance exercise with or without nitrate supplementation after knee surgery, and nitrate plus exercise improved muscle mass and strength more.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
In older women doing 8 weeks of leg resistance training, shatavari supplementation increased training load and shortened muscle relaxation time but did not improve strength more than placebo.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 22 women · 8 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women with low bone density did a 14 month high-impact, strength and endurance program and had increased lumbar spine bone density, strength and fitness versus controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 100 women · 60 weeks · 2003Early postmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
In women aged 40-60, 12 weeks of strength training with or without fortified milk improved muscle mass, strength and physical function after a prior inactivity period, regardless of menopause status.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 83 women · 12 weeks · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteosarcopenia did 6 months of supervised resistance training plus nutrition support, improving muscle mass and grip strength more than home exercise, with no difference in bone density.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 34 women · 24 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
Early postmenopausal women did high impact aerobic, jumping and resistance exercise for 50 months, maintaining spine bone density and improving cholesterol, body fat and strength versus non-training controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 68 women · 217 weeks · 2007Early postmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis did 24 weeks of home leg exercises with or without vitamin D3 or E, and all groups improved in symptoms and strength with no added benefit from supplements.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 24 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
43 middle-aged adults including peri and postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of resistance training with a pre-workout supplement or carbohydrate alone, both groups improved body composition and strength similarly.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 43 women · 6 weeks · 2025Midlife womenPubMed
Postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity did 16 weeks of resistance training and/or DHA supplementation, with muscle quality improving more with resistance training and cardiometabolic markers improving more with DHA.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In 598 postmenopausal women given tai chi or calcium and vitamin D for two years, a gene variant was linked to greater lower limb muscle strength improvement after the intervention.
Reported an improvementCohort study · 598 women · 104 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of combined strength and endurance training with or without protein and carbohydrate supplementation, and researchers found increased strength with no added benefit from supplementation.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 51 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 3 timesPubMed
In 21 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, a 12-month program of home strength training plus alendronate, calcium and vitamin D improved balance, muscle strength and spine and hip bone density.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 21 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 30 timesPubMed
In 378 postmenopausal women across four intervention studies including hormones, exercise and nutrition, those classified as weak gained more grip strength and physical performance over six months.
Reported an improvementOther · 378 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed
Untrained older women doing resistance training with higher habitual protein intake showed greater gains in skeletal muscle mass and strength than those with lower protein intake.
Reported an improvementOther · 70 women · 2019PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Ten postmenopausal women did one-legged resistance exercise after taking fermented red clover extract or placebo for 14 days, with no difference in muscle protein markers' response to exercise between treatments.
Direction not statedOther · 10 women · 2 weeks · 2020Early postmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
This review reports that combining L-citrulline supplementation with structured exercise may reduce arterial stiffness and increase leg muscle strength and lean mass in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed