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Dose–response effect of exercise frequency on bone mineral density in post‐menopausal, osteopenic women
Author(s) -
Kemmler W.,
Stengel S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12024
Subject(s) - medicine , bone mineral , osteopenia , osteoporosis , physical therapy , bone density , lumbar spine , lumbar , surgery
The purpose of this study was to determine the long‐term dose–response relationship of exercise frequency on areal bone mineral density ( aBMD ) in early post‐menopausal women with osteopenia. Based on the 12‐year results of the consequently supervised exercise group ( EG ) of the E rlangen F itness and O steoporosis P revention S tudy, we retrospectively structured two exercise groups according to the overall exercise frequency. Changes in aBMD at lumbar spine and proximal femur as assessed by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry technique were compared between a low‐frequency exercise group ( LEF‐EG , n = 16) with 1.5–<2 sessions/week and a high‐frequency exercise group ( HEF ‐EG , n = 25) with ≥2–3.5 sessions/week. Changes in aBMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were significantly more favorable in the HEF‐EG compared with the LEF‐EG ; lumbar spine: (mean value ± standard deviation) 1.1 ± 4.7% vs −4.1 ± 3.0%; P = 0.001, ES : d ' = 1.26; total hip: −4.4 ± 3.9% vs −6.7 ± 3.5%, P = 0.045, ES : d ' = 0.70). BMD results of the LEF‐EG did not significantly differ from the data of the non‐training control group (lumbar spine: −4.4 ± 5.2%, total hip: −6.9 ± 5.0%). Although this result might not be generalizable across all exercise types and cohorts, it indicates that to impact bone, an overall exercise frequency of at least 2 sessions/week may be crucial, even if exercise is applied with high intensity/impact.