Evidence mapPaperPMID 42245341Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Effectiveness of exercise intervention on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function among postmenopausal women with sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yanan Deng, Linfang Xu, Ruben Martin-Payo, Kexin Deng, Lei Huang, Yonghong Yang, Zhihao Xie, Mengying Qiu, Chuanhao Li, Fengying Zhang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yanan Deng *West China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Linfang Xu *West China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Ruben Martin-PayoPRECAM Research Group, Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Spain.
Kexin DengWest China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Lei HuangDepartment of Dermatology & Venerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yonghong YangKey Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Zhihao XieWest China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Mengying QiuSchool of English Studies, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing, China.
Chuanhao LiWest China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Fengying ZhangWest China School of Nursing, Nursing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Innovation Center of Nursing Research, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women due to hormonal changes and aging, and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Exercise has been proposed as a key strategy to mitigate sarcopenia; however, its effectiveness in this population remains inconclusive. Objective: To systematically evaluate the effects of different exercise modalities on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function in postmenopausal women with sarcopenia. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across six electronic databases from inception to April 1, 2025. Randomized controlled trials evaluating exercise interventions in postmenopausal women with sarcopenia were included. Primary outcomes were muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan and Stata. Results: A total of 17 RCTs involving 744 postmenopausal women with sarcopenia were included in this systematic review. The pooled analysis revealed that exercise interventions significantly improved skeletal muscle mass index. Additionally, significant improvements were found in muscle strength, including grip strength and knee extension strength. Physical function also improved, as evidenced by improvements in gait speed, the Timed Up and Go test, and single-leg stance. No significant differences were observed for body mass index (BMI) between intervention and control groups. Conclusions: Exercise interventions were associated with improvements in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function in postmenopausal women with sarcopenia. These findings support the integration of structured exercise programs into clinical practice to improve sarcopenia-related outcomes in this population. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024608200, identifier: CRD42024608200.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyMuscle, SkeletalMuscle StrengthPhysical Functional PerformancePostmenopauseSarcopeniaFemaleHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicexercise interventionmuscle massmuscle strengthphysical functionpostmenopausalsarcopenia

Identifiers

PMID42245341
PMCPMC13229780

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.