OBJECTIVE: To determine if current exercise interventions were effective at improving physical activity (PA) levels and/or cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in postpartum women. DESIGN: Intervention systematic review with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to March 2024. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Participantspostpartum women; interventionexercise; controlstandard care; outcomesPA levels and/or CRF. DATA SYNTHESIS: Random effects meta-analysis using standardized mean differences (SMDs). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies- Intervention (ROBINS-I). RESULTS: A total of 6041 studies were screened, and 29 were eligible for inclusion. Nineteen studies with adequate control data included outcomes related to PA levels (n = 12) or CRF (n = 7) and were pooled in meta-analyses. There was a small to moderate improvement in CRF (SMD 0.65; 95% CI (confidence interval) 0.20 to 1.10; I2 >= 61%). There was no improvement in PA levels (SMD -0.13; 95% CI -0.53 to 0.26; I2 >= 90%). Frequency, intensity, type, and time of the exercise interventions varied. Twenty-three studies were at high or serious risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Postpartum exercise interventions may improve CRF but have an unclear effect on PA levels. Despite numerous exercise interventions to improve health outcomes postpartum, parameters were inconsistent.

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