A considerable increase in muscle strength and bone mass can be achieved in young
adults through athletic exercise programs. We studied a less demanding nonloading
exercise program for the back extensor muscles in postmenopausal women who were not
on estrogen therapy. We randomly assigned 65 healthy Caucasian women without evidence
of or risk factors for osteoporosis into an exercise group and a control group. The
strength of the back extensor muscles and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine
were measured at baseline and every 6 months for 2 years. In addition, a physical
activity score was determined. Compliance was assessed by regular interviews and review
of diaries. During the 2-year study, the mean rates of bone loss in the two groups
were not statistically different. The strength of the back extensor muscles increased
in both groups but significantly more (P – 0.002) in the exercise group. We conclude that postmenopausal bone loss is unaffected
by a modest exercise program despite an increase in muscle strength. Nonloading muscle
exercise may be ineffective in retarding vertebral bone loss in ambulatory, healthy
postmenopausal women.
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Article info
Footnotes
This study was supported in part by a grant from the Mayo Foundation and by Grant RR 00585 from the National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service.
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Copyright
© 1989 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
