Training & movement
B · Reasonable confidenceExercise and bone density in postmenopausal women
Subject: Ground and joint reaction force exercise and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women
What this means
Impact exercise such as walking, or strength training, produced a small improvement in bone density at the femoral neck and lower spine compared with a control group.
Kelley GA, Kelley KS, Kohrt WM · 2012 · BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 13:177
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
Ground- and joint-reaction-force exercise, including resistance training, can have a small beneficial effect on lumbar-spine and femoral-neck bone density in postmenopausal women.
Who this applies to
Postmenopausal women who were not regularly active, for example under 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
Size of the research
Randomized trials with 1632 participants for the hip measurement and 1504 for the lower spine.
What to keep in mind
Results varied widely between studies. For the lower spine the effect was borderline statistically. Programs lasted at least 24 weeks.
Practical conclusion for REZA
For those for whom it applies, a programme of load-bearing exercise and resistance training can reasonably contribute to bone health, always matched to individual safety.
View method and source
Methodology
Meta-analysis of randomised trials
Limitations
Effects are small, heterogeneous and based on studies of varying duration; this is not a replacement for clinical management of osteoporosis.
Original source
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-177 · PMID: 22992273
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.