Long-term exercise using weighted vests prevents hip bone loss in postmenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
Bone mineral density (BMD) is a primary risk factor for hip fracture. We studied the effect of long-term weighted vest plus jumping exercise on hip BMD in postmenopausal women as a strategy for reducing hip fracture risk.


METHODS
Eighteen postmenopausal women (age = 64.1 +/- 1.6 years at baseline, 69.9 +/- 1.6 years at post-testing) who had participated in a 9-month exercise intervention volunteered for the long-term trial. Nine of the original group engaged in weighted vest plus jumping exercise three times per week for 32 weeks of the year over a period of 5 years. Nine of the original controls were active but not enrolled in the exercise program. BMD of the proximal femur was assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 5 years.


RESULTS
At baseline, groups were similar for age, weight, height, years past menopause, and BMD of the femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip. At follow-up, differences in BMD at all regions of the hip were higher in exercisers than controls. For exercisers, changes in BMD were + 1.54% +/- 2.37%, -0.24% +/- 1.02%, and -0.82% +/- 1.04% (means + SE) at the femoral neck, trochanter, and total hip, respectively; controls decreased at all sites (-4.43% +/- 0.93%. 3.43% +/- 1.09%, and -3.80% +/- 1.03%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
A 5-year program of weighted vest plus jumping exercise maintains hip BMD by preventing significant bone loss in older postmenopausal women. Furthermore, this particular program appears to promote long-term adherence and compliance, as evidenced by the commitment of the exercisers for more than 5 years.
Snow
C M
CM
Bone Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA. christine.snow@orst.edu
Shaw
J M
JM
Winters
K M
KM
Witzke
K A
KA
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000502:physiology; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology