Traditional Chinese exercise showed mixed results across menopause-related outcomes
A review reported improvements in menopausal symptoms, depression and spinal bone density, while quality-of-life results and findings at other skeletal sites remained uncertain.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled trials reported improvements in menopausal symptom scores, depression scores and spinal bone mineral density with Traditional Chinese Exercise. However, overall physical and mental quality-of-life scores did not clearly improve. A change in bone density is a bone-health measurement; the abstract does not establish that fractures were reduced or that benefits extended to all skeletal sites.
The abstract does not describe the exercise forms, control conditions or study durations, and evidence at several skeletal sites came from few studies. Those gaps prevent a clear account of which programs the results apply to.
Several distinct outcomes were pooled
The review combined randomized trials in women around or after menopause. Symptom scores, depression scores and bone density were separate outcomes, so a favorable result for one should not be read as improvement across every health measure.
Uncertain results remain part of the picture
Neither the physical nor mental component of quality of life showed a statistically clear improvement. This does not prove an absence of benefit. Effects on bone density outside the spine were also uncertain because studies were limited.
The original publication
Effects of Traditional Chinese Exercise on Menopausal Symptoms, Bone Health and Mental Health in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Liu Y, He Y, Zhang Q et al.
Biol Res Nurs · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40971657
- Record checked
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