A meta-analysis of four trials totaling 660 middle-aged women found 12 to 16 weeks of programmed exercise improved sleep quality scores but did not significantly reduce insomnia severity.
Mixed resultsMeta-analysis · 660 participants pooled · 16 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 97 timesPubMed
A review of 6 studies including postmenopausal women found that yoga, tai chi, resistance and aerobic exercise improved subjective sleep quality and reduced insomnia severity.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 295 participants pooled · 2022Midlife womenCited 17 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 12 RCTs found exercise such as yoga, walking, and fitness qigong improved sleep quality in perimenopausal women, with qigong over 10 to 12 weeks most effective.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 1,493 participants pooled · 2023PerimenopausalCited 10 timesPubMed
A meta-analysis of 19 RCTs found low to moderate intensity aerobic exercise in menopausal women was associated with a moderate improvement in sleep disorder scores.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2024Midlife womenCited 5 timesPubMed
In sedentary perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, 12 weeks of facility-based aerobic exercise three times weekly did not reduce hot flush frequency or bother versus usual activity.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 248 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 135 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 44 trials in menopausal women found exercise, along with yoga, mindfulness and other nonpharmacological therapies, significantly improved sleep quality compared with control.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 2 timesPubMed
A review of controlled trials found exercise trials for hot flushes gave mixed results, while one yoga trial reduced hot flushes and improved cognitive symptoms more than exercise.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2014Midlife womenCited 27 timesPubMed
A network meta-analysis of 31 RCTs in peri and postmenopausal women found combined exercise and flexibility exercise were most effective for improving sleep quality, with mind-body and aerobic exercise also helpful.
Reported an improvementMeta-analysis · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed
Pooled analysis of peri and postmenopausal women with insomnia and hot flashes found aerobic exercise reduced insomnia severity more than control but less than CBT-I over 8 to 12 weeks.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 546 women · 10 weeks · 2018Midlife womenCited 65 timesPubMed
A systematic review and guideline reported that aerobic exercise, along with cognitive behavioral therapy, may provide long-term benefits for postmenopausal insomnia.
Reported an improvementSystematic review · 2019PostmenopausalCited 20 timesPubMed
In 173 sedentary, overweight postmenopausal women, a year of moderate-intensity exercise or stretching was associated with improved self-reported sleep quality, with effects depending on exercise timing and amount.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 173 women · 52 weeks · 2003PostmenopausalCited 101 timesPubMed
Among sedentary peri and postmenopausal women randomized to yoga, aerobic exercise or usual activity plus omega-3 or placebo, omega-3 did not improve hot flush frequency, bother, sleep or mood versus placebo over 12 weeks.
Direction not statedRandomised trial · 355 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 63 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
In 186 menopausal women with hot flashes, 12 weeks of yoga or aerobic exercise did not significantly change objective actigraphic sleep measures versus usual activity.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 186 women · 12 weeks · 2017Midlife womenCited 36 timesPubMed
Sedentary menopausal women aged 43 to 63 doing six months of unsupervised aerobic training four times weekly reported improved sleep quality and fewer sleep-disturbing hot flushes than controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 176 women · 26 weeks · 2012Midlife womenCited 35 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 60 perimenopausal women with functional dyspepsia, adding aerobic exercise to relaxation therapy for 8 weeks increased estradiol levels more than relaxation therapy alone.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 60 women · 8 weeks · 2022PerimenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed
Middle-aged women with chronic insomnia did 12 weeks of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise and reported reduced insomnia severity and improved objective sleep measures versus controls.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 24 women · 12 weeks · 2023Midlife womenCited 21 timesPubMed
In 400 inactive postmenopausal women, a year of aerobic exercise at 300 versus 150 minutes per week showed no additional benefit for quality of life, sleep or mood.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 400 women · 52 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 13 timesPubMed
Overweight postmenopausal women in a 12-month weight loss program with aerobic exercise and vitamin D or placebo showed no improvement in depressive symptoms or quality of life from vitamin D.
Reported a worseningRandomised trial · 52 weeks · 2016PostmenopausalCited 33 timesPubMed
Forty-seven postmenopausal women did 16 weeks of jazz dance, which improved cardiorespiratory fitness and short-term sleep quality but did not improve body composition or most strength measures.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 47 women · 16 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 2 timesPubMed
Seventy postmenopausal women did jazz dance or concurrent training for up to 12 months; both improved cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and sleep quality, with concurrent training showing greater fitness gains.
Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 70 women · 52 weeks · 2025PostmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
In postmenopausal women followed 24 months after a year of moderate or high volume aerobic exercise, quality of life and sleep outcomes did not differ between the two exercise doses.
No difference foundRandomised trial · 333 women · 104 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalPubMed
Across MsFLASH trials of over 1,300 women, researchers found yoga or exercise did not reduce hot flashes compared with usual activity.
Direction not statedOther · 1,300 women · 2020Midlife womenCited 18 timesPubMed
A review of trials in menopausal women reported that aerobic exercise and yoga were linked to improved mood, quality of life, insomnia and some vasomotor symptoms compared with no exercise.
Reported an improvementOther · 2009Midlife womenCited 66 timesPubMed
A trial protocol will compare 12 weeks of urban dance versus functional fitness against a control group for physical and psychological effects in postmenopausal women aged 40 to 59.
Direction not statedOther · 12 weeks · 2025Early postmenopausalCited 1 timesPubMed
A review described how regular physical activity including aerobic exercise, resistance training and yoga in midlife women supports cognition, sleep, mood and reduces chronic disease risk.
Reported an improvementOther · 2025Midlife womenCited 1 timesPubMed