An umbrella review and meta-analysis of yoga trials in peri- and postmenopausal women found yoga reduced hot flushes and psychological symptoms compared with controls, with quality of life rarely reported.
Direction not statedMeta-analysis · 927 participants pooled · 2017Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 16 trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found traditional Chinese exercise improved bone mineral density, pain, balance, and quality of life versus conventional care alone.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,288 participants pooled · 2024PostmenopausalCited 6 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 meta-analysis of 12 trials with 1,050 women found exercise and mind-body exercise improved menopausal symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depressive symptoms compared with controls.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,050 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs with 1023 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women found Traditional Chinese Exercise reduced menopausal symptoms and depression and improved spine bone density, but not quality of life.
No difference foundMeta-analysis · 1,023 participants pooled · 2026Midlife womenPubMed
A systematic review of randomized trials found exercise, including Tai Chi, aerobic exercise and pilates, improved bone mineral density and quality of life in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2020PostmenopausalCited 34 timesPubMed
In 86 postmenopausal osteopenic women, nine months of Tai Chi training did not significantly change hip or spine bone density overall, but improved balance sway measures versus usual care.
Mixed resultsRandomised trial · 86 women · 39 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 81 timesPubMed
A systematic review of 5 trials found tai chi improved bodily pain, general health, vitality, mental health and spine bone density in perimenopausal women, but not physical or social function.
Mixed resultsSystematic review · 2017PerimenopausalCited 14 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal osteopenic women who did 24 weeks of Tai Chi, with or without green tea polyphenols, reported improved emotional and mental health quality of life scores, with no effect on liver or kidney safety markers.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 171 women · 24 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 37 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with low bone mass who did tai chi three times weekly for 24 weeks showed increased stride width and improved general health, vitality and bodily pain versus controls, but no balance changes.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 61 women · 24 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 38 timesPubMed
A review of four trials of tai chi in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found a positive effect on balance but no clear support for benefits in muscle strength or quality of life.
No difference foundSystematic review · 2014PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
This trial protocol will test whether 9 months of Tai Chi reduces bone turnover and affects bone density in 86 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, compared with standard care, results not yet reported.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 86 women · 39 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women did a 12-week Qigong program and reported improved menopausal symptom severity and better health-related quality of life compared to controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 125 women · 12 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 7 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis did a 16 week Tai Chi based activity program and showed improved grip strength, walking speed, disease activity and quality of life versus usual care.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 62 women · 16 weeks · 2023PostmenopausalCited 6 timesPubMed
A 6 month Tai Chi program in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis improved physical quality of life scores and some balance measures versus usual care, though between-group balance differences were not significant.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 98 women · 26 weeks · 2019PostmenopausalCited 5 timesPubMed
62 postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of tai chi; dynapenic women showed improved handgrip strength, function and health perception, and both groups had lower blood pressure.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 62 women · 12 weeks · 2011PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women did Baduanjin exercise three times weekly for 12 weeks and researchers found increased antioxidant enzyme levels and improved quality of life scores.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2008Midlife womenCited 40 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with joint pain from aromatase inhibitors did group tai chi twice weekly for 8 weeks and reported improved anxiety, depression, fatigue and emotional wellbeing, with no significant change in pain or balance.
Reported an improvementBefore-and-after study · 12 women · 8 weeks · 2013PostmenopausalCited 23 timesPubMed
Postmenopausal women with mild knee or hip osteoarthritis who practiced Eight Part Vajra Gong 20 minutes, two to three times weekly for 24 months, reported greater improvements in pain and quality of life than non-exercisers.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 180 women · 104 weeks · 2026PostmenopausalPubMed
Perimenopausal women received a 12-week combined traditional Chinese medicine program including tai chi, herbs and counseling, and menopause-specific quality of life scores improved.
Reported an improvementControlled trial · 12 weeks · 2011PerimenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed