The effects of strengthening and high-impact exercises on bone metabolism and quality of life in postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective, randomized controlled 6-month interventional trial was to investigate the effects of strengthening and high-impact exercise training on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in postmenopausal women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-two eligible postmenopausal women with osteopenia who referred to our outpatient clinics were included in the study and allocated equally to three groups receiving strengthening exercise, high-impact exercise or no exercise (control). The supervised training program consisted of a one-hour exercise session three times a week for six months. BMD at the L1-L4 and femoral neck, serum bone turnover markers (osteocalcin, OC; N-telopeptides of type I collagen, NTx) and HRQoL were measured at the beginning and sixth months. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the BMD at the lumbar spine (p = 0.017) and femoral neck (p = 0.013) in the high-impact group compared to the strengthening and control groups. Serum OC (p = 0.033) increased, and NTx (p = 0.034) decreased significantly only in the high-impact group. HRQoL improved significantly in both training groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that 6-month supervised high-impact exercise training can be effective in prevention of bone loss at lumbar spine and femoral neck. These data also indicate that both supervised training programs improve HRQoL in postmenopausal women.