Efficacy of traditional Chinese exercise on postmenopausal osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) is used as a therapeutic method in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of TCE and provide reliable clinical evidence.

Eight databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Chinese Science Citation Database, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Medical Journal full-text databases, were searched for randomized controlled trials. Meta-analysis was performed using the RevMan (version 5.4) software.

Sixteen studies involving 1,288 patients were included. Compared with conventional treatment alone, TCE improved patients’ bone mineral density, decreased pain, improved balance, improved quality of life, and decreased deoxypyridinoline levels. However, the intervention effects on the biochemical indexes of bone metabolism, including blood calcium, blood phosphorus, osteocalcin, and alkaline phosphatase levels, were not statistically significant.

TCE has a significant effect on postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis and can be used as a non-pharmacological treatment. The results of this study should be interpreted with caution because of the large heterogeneity for some indicators.