Evidências sobre aptidão física na menopausa: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Abstract

Introduction: The present study aimed to identify the impact of menopause on women’s physical fitness, analyzing the main physiological, functional, and quality-of-life changes resulting from this stage. The justification is based on the increase in life expectancy and the growing need to maintain functionality and health during female aging. The proposed hypothesis is that the hormonal changes of menopause may compromise physical fitness and functional capacity, but that regular physical exercise can mitigate these effects. Methods: This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed and SciELO databases, using the descriptors “Aptidão física” AND (“Pré-menopausa” OR “Pós-menopausa” OR “Climatério”) and “Physical fitness” AND (“Premenopause” OR “Postmenopause” OR “Climacteric”). Seven articles published between 2015 and 2025 were included, addressing the effects of physical exercise on variables such as physical fitness, functional capacity, and quality of life in postmenopausal women. Results: The results showed that, despite the biological changes resulting from menopause that impact women’s physical fitness, regular physical exercise significantly improves strength, flexibility, aerobic endurance, and quality of life. Furthermore, it was found that the combination of exercise and hormone therapy does not provide greater benefits than exercise alone. Conclusion: It is concluded that physical exercise is an effective tool for preserving functional fitness and overall health in menopausal women and should be incorporated regularly and adapted to their physiological needs