[Effects of a combined weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing ( warm water) exercise program on bone mass and quality in postmenopausal women with low bone-mineral density].

Abstract

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of a combined weight- and non weight-bearing (water) exercise program on bone mass and quality in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 125 post-menopausal women with osteopenia/osteoporosis underwent a bone mass (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorbimetry, DEXA) and bone tissue quality (phalangeal osteosonography) evaluation. 58 of the participants took part in an 11-month specific exercise program (E). The other represented a control group (C) that did not exercise. At the end of the exercise program all the participants were re-evaluated. RESULTS: Concerning bone mass, within and between groups data analysis showed that t-score, measured at neck of femur, significantly increased in E (p < 0.05). No differences were instead detected for all the other parameters. With respect to osteosonography, group C showed a significant decrease of all bone quality parameters (p < 0.05), whereas E showed no differences after the exercise program. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that a specific exercise program targeting osteoporosis is useful to reduce the physiological bone loss and to maintain a good bone quality in a group of postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.