A meta-analysis of 12 trials found resistance training in postmenopausal women improved functional capacity, bone density, and reduced hot flash frequency and fat mass versus no exercise.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 452 participants pooled · 16 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 18 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 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 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 meta-analysis of 24 RCTs found progressive exercise training, including resistance, aerobic, impact, vibration and tai chi, improved bone mineral density and, in some studies, quality of life.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 6 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.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2020Midlife womenCited 42 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis did 4 months of home-based low-intensity back-strengthening exercise, which improved quality of life and back extensor strength more than control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 80 women · 16 weeks · 2007PostmenopausalCited 91 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 13 RCTs with 1,470 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found aerobic exercise, yoga, Pilates, resistance training, stretching and relaxation improved sleep quality and psychological wellbeing.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 1,470 participants pooled · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 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 osteopenia did 6 months of strengthening or high-impact exercise; high-impact training increased bone density at spine and hip and both improved quality of life.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 42 women · 26 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 48 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
Postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures who did a 6-month home exercise program of stretching, strength training and walking reported better quality of life and balance than controls, with no change in bone density.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 113 timesPubMed
A scoping review of 20 studies found resistance training combined with impact activity improved bone density in menopausal women, with greater benefit when combined with hormone therapy than either alone.
Direction not statedSystematic review · 2025Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
In 137 overweight postmenopausal women on a 6-month weight loss plan, adding resistance training to caloric restriction did not further improve psychosocial measures beyond diet alone.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 137 women · 26 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 25 timesPubMed
In 60 postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures, 6 weeks of supervised back-strengthening exercise improved spinal pain, muscle strength, mobility and quality of life more than a home program or control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 6 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with daily hot flushes did resistance training three times weekly for 15 weeks and reported improved menopause-specific quality of life, including vasomotor and sleep domains, versus controls.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 65 women · 15 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 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
In postmenopausal women on osteoporosis medication, 13 months of resistance training three times weekly improved bone density, leg strength and quality of life more than training twice weekly or no training.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 52 women · 56 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 24 timesPubMed
Breast cancer patients did 16 weeks of resistance plus HIIT or aerobic plus HIIT during chemotherapy; at 5 years fatigue did not differ from usual care, but gluteal pain sensitivity was reduced with resistance HIIT.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 240 women · 16 weeks · 2024Midlife womenCited 13 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
In 28 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia, 12 weeks of home-based trunk strengthening exercise improved spinal mobility, trunk strength, and some quality of life domains versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 2005PostmenopausalCited 27 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
This trial protocol describes 15 weeks of supervised resistance training three times weekly in sedentary postmenopausal women with frequent hot flushes, with results not yet reported.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 60 women · 15 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 14 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.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 93 women · 32 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
In 36 postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, 12 weeks of resistance training increased strength by about 25 to 35% and fatigue decreased, alongside changes in kynurenine metabolism markers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 36 women · 12 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women did 12 weeks of resistance training or walking three times weekly, and resistance training improved body image more than walking.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 12 weeks · 1993Midlife womenCited 19 timesPubMed
In sedentary postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence, an eight week multimodal exercise program improved incontinence related quality of life and symptom severity more than pelvic floor training alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 26 women · 8 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did resistance training with stretching twice weekly for 8 weeks and showed reduced body fat, increased fat-free mass, and improved physical and mental quality of life versus non-exercisers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 8 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with osteopenia did 12 months of vibration or resistance training, bone density was maintained in all groups, and resistance training improved quality of life and postural control.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 65 women · 52 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 8 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of twice-weekly resistance training, and both groups increased muscle strength equally, with quality of life and balance improving only in the group without added light therapy.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 34 women · 8 weeks · 2020PostmenopausalCited 8 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
115 postmenopausal women with low bone mass did 8 months of high-intensity resistance and impact training or low-intensity Pilates, and pelvic floor related quality of life did not differ between groups.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 115 women · 32 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 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
Healthy postmenopausal women did 30 weeks of ballistic or conventional resistance training, and both were well accepted with no serious adverse events and similar perceived benefits.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 109 women · 30 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalPubMed
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.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 80 women · 24 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
In postmenopausal women, a 15-week resistance training program reduced hot flush frequency for up to 6 months, but the benefit was not maintained at 2-year follow-up.
No difference foundCohort study · 35 women · 104 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women on alendronate did resistance training, judo, water aerobics or no exercise for 12 months; resistance training and judo groups showed greater gains in spine bone density, balance and quality of life than controls.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 35 women · 52 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of resistance training three times weekly; muscle strength increased significantly, but overall quality of life scores did not differ from controls.
No difference foundControlled trial · 32 women · 16 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone mass who did 3 months of weight-bearing and resistance exercise showed increased bone formation markers, strength, and improved quality of life.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 33 women · 12 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors did 16 weeks of whole-body resistance training and showed increased muscle strength, reduced fatigue, improved quality of life, and lower inflammatory markers.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 11 women · 16 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 40 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors self-reported leisure, strength, and walking activity; about half met activity guidelines, and activity level was not linked to quality of life scores.
No difference foundCross-sectional study · 170 women · 2021PostmenopausalCited 11 timesPubMed
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 with at least 7 years of resistance training felt younger, rated their health higher and had better body composition than untrained peers of similar age.
Reported an improvementCross-sectional study · 46 women · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Fifteen low-active postmenopausal women did 15 weeks of resistance training and reported improved well-being and most experienced fewer vasomotor symptoms.
Reported an improvementOther · 15 women · 15 weeks · 2022PostmenopausalCited 12 timesPubMed
This is a trial protocol for 80 Japanese women over 65 with knee osteoarthritis combining oestrogen gel with 12 weeks of muscle resistance exercise, with no results reported yet.
Direction not statedOther · 80 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
This review reported that resistance training produced beneficial effects on muscle, bone and adipose tissue, improving quality of life in postmenopausal women.
Reported an improvementOther · 2010PostmenopausalCited 21 timesPubMed
This protocol describes an 8 month trial testing high-intensity resistance and impact exercise combined with romosozumab versus low-intensity exercise in 102 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, results not yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 102 women · 32 weeks · 2024PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
A 12 week trial design compared dumbbell resistance exercise and aerobic exercise for physical activity and quality of life in 102 Malaysian breast cancer survivors, stratified by menopausal status, with no results yet reported.
Direction not statedOther · 102 women · 12 weeks · 2016Midlife womenCited 6 timesPubMed
A pilot RCT protocol will test a 9-month high-intensity resistance and impact training program in 40 perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women, assessing feasibility and bone, muscle and function measures.
Direction not statedOther · 40 women · 36 weeks · 2025PerimenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
This review reported that perimenopausal and postmenopausal women benefit from endurance and strength exercise, improving fitness, bone health, and quality of life.
Reported an improvementOther · 2000Midlife womenCited 10 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