Feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a pilot 16-week home-based, impact exercise intervention in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density

Ng, C.-A.<sup>1</sup>; McMillan, L. B.<sup>1</sup>; Humbert, L.<sup>2</sup>; Ebeling, P. R.<sup>1</sup>; Scott, D.<sup>1,3,4</sup>

Affiliations

¹Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

²Musculoskeletal Unit, Galgo Medical, Barcelona, Spain

³Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

⁴Department of Medicine at Western Health, The University of Melbourne, Sunshine, Victoria, Australia

Abstract and keywords

Summary: The feasibility and efficacy of home-based, impact exercise are unclear. This pilot impact exercise intervention was feasible and safe, and improved bone health and physical function in postmenopausal women with low bone density. Appropriately designed randomised controlled trials are now required to determine whether such interventions can reduce fracture risk.

Introduction: The feasibility and efficacy of impact exercise in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density (BMD) are unclear. We aimed to determine adherence, safety and changes in BMD, bone microarchitecture and physical function following a pilot home-based, impact exercise intervention in postmenopausal women with low BMD.

Methods: Fifty community-dwelling postmenopausal women with BMD T-scores < − 1.0 participated in 16 weeks of home-based impact exercise progressively increasing to 50 multi-directional unilateral hops on each leg daily. Bone density and structure were assessed by lumbar spine and hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), 3D modelling (3D-SHAPER) of hip DXA scans and distal tibial high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans. Physical performance was assessed by repeated chair stand time and stair climb time.

Results: Forty-four women (mean ± SD age 64.5 ± 7.5 years) completed the intervention, with adherence of 85.3 ± 17.3%. Reasons for withdrawal were related soreness (n = 2), unrelated injury (n = 1) and loss of interest (n = 3). Femoral neck areal BMD increased by 1.13 ± 3.76% (p = 0.048). Trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD) increased at the total hip (2.27 ± 7.03%; p = 0.038) and femoral neck increased (3.20 ± 5.39%; p < 0.001). Distal tibia total vBMD increased by 0.32 ± 0.88% (p = 0.032) and cortical cross-sectional area increased by 0.55 ± 1.54% (p = 0.034). Chair stand and stair climb time improved by 2.34 ± 1.88 s (p < 0.001) and 0.27 ± 0.49 s (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion: A 16-week home-based, impact exercise was feasible and may be effective in improving femoral neck areal BMD, total hip and distal tibial vBMD and physical function in postmenopausal women. Appropriately designed randomised controlled trials are now required to determine whether such interventions can reduce fracture risk in older populations.

Keywords: Bone; Impact exercise; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women

Links

DOI: 10.1007/s00198-020-05723-3

PubMed: 33159533

WoS: 000587265100002

History

Received: 2020-08-25

Accepted: 2020-10-29

Online: 2020-11-07

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Cited By (1)

Year	Entry
2023	Ng C-A, Gandham A, Mesinovic J, Owen PJ, Ebeling PR, Scott D. Effects of moderate- to high-impact exercise training on bone structure across the lifespan: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Bone Miner Res. November 2023;38(11):1612-1634.