Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Exercise on Postmenopausal Bone Loss

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a significant health concern for postmenopausal women, increasing the risk of fractures and reducing quality of life. Exercise is often recommended as a non-pharmacological strategy to prevent or manage bone loss. AIM: The meta-analysis investigates the effects of various exercise interventions in randomized controlled trials by comparing outcomes between treatment and control groups. Specifically, it examines the impact of exercise on bone mineral density (BMD), differences in effect magnitude across exercise types, and the variability of these effects between studies. METHODS: Databases including PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and Embase are searched for eligible studies up to 2015. Eligible studies included those that compared exercise intervention groups with non-exercising control groups and reported BMD outcomes at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total body, and total hip. A fixed effect size model is used to calculate pooled effect sizes, and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess differences based on exercise type and intensity. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated using the Q-test for homogeneity. RESULTS: The findings are consistent with previous reviews, showing a generally positive effect of exercise—with routines combining aerobic and resistance training yielding a statistically significant result. There is no significant differences between the types of exercise and all DEXA scan sites. DISCUSSION: Resistance training appears particularly beneficial, contributing to modest BMD improvements without adverse health effects. The findings support the role of exercise, especially when tailored appropriately, in promoting bone health among postmenopausal women.