A meta-analysis of 23 trials in people with osteoporosis, 95 percent female with an average age of 67, found exercise such as resistance training, balance training and Pilates improved mental health, quality of life and pain.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2,120 participants pooled · 19 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A systematic review of nine studies using virtual reality exercise games in climacteric women found improvements in pelvic floor strength, balance, cardiorespiratory fitness and bone density versus conventional approaches.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 298 participants pooled · 2022PerimenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 60 to 84 with osteoporosis and prior vertebral fracture who did 3 months of circuit exercises had better walking speed, balance and quality of life at 3 and 12 months than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 89 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 67 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with hip pain did a 12 week targeted gluteal loading exercise program or sham exercise, with no overall difference between groups in pain and function at 52 weeks.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 94 women · 52 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 51 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporotic spinal fractures did 10 weeks of balance and strength physiotherapy training, reporting less pain, improved quality of life, and improved muscle strength.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 53 women · 10 weeks · 1998PostmenopausalCited 91 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did 18 weeks of progressive quadriceps strength and proprioception training and had fewer falls, better balance and quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 85 women · 18 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 50 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures did a structured exercise program twice weekly for 12 months and showed better quality of life, balance and functional mobility than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 78 women · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 39 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.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 39 women · 52 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 49 timesPubMed
Sedentary women with osteoporosis did a 6 month self-management and activity program, which improved pain, quality of life, balance and function versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 50 women · 26 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia and a healed wrist fracture did a 6-month weighted vest and balance exercise programme, showing no significant difference from education alone in strength, bone density, balance or quality of life.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 80 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 17 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70, 8 weeks of core and balance exercises with or without vitamin D improved balance and quality of life, with no added benefit from vitamin D.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 99 women · 8 weeks · 2021PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did Kinect-based virtual reality training plus daily walking for 24 weeks and showed greater improvements in physical performance and quality of life than walking alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 24 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 9 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did 6 weeks of virtual reality or traditional strength-balance training and researchers reported the VR group had reduced fear of falling and improved balance control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 20 women · 6 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 9 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
In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, 12 weeks of balance and coordination training improved balance, while strengthening exercise improved pain, and no falls occurred during follow-up.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 14 weeks of functional training; both element-based and task-specific programs improved functional reach, gait speed and quality of life versus control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 14 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis doing an 18 month exercise program, individually coached and group coached training showed similar improvements in physical function and activity levels.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 52 women · 78 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 4 timesPubMed
A 6-month adapted exercise program in 44 postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures improved quality of life, fear of falling, balance, gait, and functional exercise capacity compared with controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 44 women · 26 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 18 timesPubMed
An RCT of 51 middle-aged women with chronic low back pain found core stability and postural control training both reduced pain and disability, with postural training also improving proprioception.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 51 women · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
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.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 40 women · 8 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did a 6-month weighted-vest and education program, with high adherence and improved quadriceps strength and hip bone density.
Direction not statedBefore-and-after study · 42 women · 26 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women aged 50 to 70 did 12 weeks of twice-weekly hatha Balance Flow Yoga and described perceived physical, emotional and social benefits in focus group discussions.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalPubMed
A review of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found most studies reported exercise improved quality of life and physical domains like muscle strength and balance.
Reported an improvementOther · 2014PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed