INTRODUCTION: Physical activity influences the maintenance of osseous normal activities, and for this reason has been indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To verify in the scientific literature the influence of physical exercise in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly. METHODOLOGY: This research was supported though systematic review of literature with extensive use of the electronic database LILACS, SciELO and PubMed, with the descriptors osteoporosis, physical exercise, elderly, prevention and treatment. Were selected the abstracts that presented the initial criteria of selection. RESULTS: From a total of 209 studies found, 27 met the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, where 9 studies focused on treatment, 16 on the prevention and 2 on the both prevention and treatment. The exercises that are most prominent in the treatment of osteoporosis were: isometric extension of the trunk, open kinetic-chain exercise, coordination and balance exercises. To the prevention, the exercises highlighted were: high-intensity exercises, high-impact exercises and aerobic exercises. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise is an important factor in both prevention and treatment of the elderly affected by osteoporosis disease, and the specificities of the exercise must be according to the objectives.

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