Exercise maintains bone density at spine and hip EFOPS: a 3-year longitudinal study in early postmenopausal women
Abstract
It is an important aim in the prevention of osteoporosis to stop or decelerate bone loss during the early postmenopausal years. Here we report on results of the 3-year EFOPS exercise trial in osteopenic women. The exercise strategy emphasized low-volume high-resistance strength training and high-impact aerobics. Forty-eight fully compliant women (55.1+/-3.3 years) with no medication or illness affecting bone metabolism participated in the exercise group (EG); 30 women (55.5+/-3.0 years) served as non-training controls (CG). At baseline there were no significant between-group differences with respect to physical fitness, bone mineral density, pain and nutritional status. The training consisted of two group training and two home training sessions per week. The study participants of both groups were individually supplemented with calcium and vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by DXA at the lumbar spine, proximal femur and distal forearm and by QCT at the lumbar spine. Speed of sound and broadband ultrasound attenuation were determined at the calcaneus by quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Pain frequency and intensity at different skeletal sites were assessed via questionnaire. After 38 months, the following within-group changes were measured: DXA lumbar spine, EG: 0.8% n.s.; CG: -3.3% P<0.001; QCT trabecular ROI, EG: 1.1% n.s; CG: -7.7% P<0.001; QCT cortical ROI, EG: 5.3% P<0.001; CG: -2.6% P<0.001; DXA total hip: EG: -0.2% n.s; CG -1.9%, P<0.001; DXA distal forearm, EG: -2.8% P<0.001; CG: -3.8% P<0.001; BUA, EG: -0.3% n.s; CG -5.4% P<0.001; SOS, EG: 0.3% n.s; CG -1.0% P<0.001. At year 3 between-group differences relative to the exercise group were: DXA lumbar spine: 4.1% P<0.001; QCT trabecular ROI: 8.8% P<0.001; QCT cortical ROI: 7.9% P<0.001; DXA total hip: 2.1%, P<0.001; DXA distal forearm: 1.0% n.s.; BUA: 5.8% P<0.05; SOS: 1.3% P<0.001. Pain frequency and intensity in the spine significantly decreased in the exercise group and increased in the control group, while no between-group differences were detected in the main joints. In summary, over a period of 3 years our low-volume/high-intensity exercise program was successful to maintain bone mineral density at the spine, hip and calcaneus, but not at the forearm.
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The non-trained group's bone mineral density decreased 2-8% over the same 3-year period.
“Importantly, the non-trained group bone mineral density decreased 2–8% over the same 3-yr period.”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [162]
Avoiding inactivity in the early post-menopausal period is clinically important, and lack of impact on critical bones with high fracture rates in later life is specific.
“These findings emphasize the clinical importance of avoiding inactivity in the early post-menopausal period and the specificity of the lack of impact on critical bones with high fracture rates in later life (162).”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [162]
A 3-year program of combined low-volume, high-resistance strength training and high-impact aerobics maintained bone mineral density at the spine, hip, and calcaneus, but not at the forearm, which lost 3%, in early post-menopausal women.
“In a first study, a 3-yr program of combined low-volume, high-resistance strength training, and high-impact aerobics maintained bone mineral density at the spine, hip, and calcaneus, but not at the forearm (which lost 3%), in early post-menopausal women (162).”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [162]
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References 49 · Cited by 148
- Authors
- Engelke, K., Kemmler, W., Lauber, D., Beeskow, C., Pintag, R., & Kalender, W. A.
- Affiliations
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Engelke, K.
- Venue
- Osteoporosis International
- Published
- 2005-08-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 133-142
- ISSN
- 0937-941X (ISSN-L)
- 1433-2965
- OpenAlex
- W2071864650
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 9.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Osteoporosis International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Sanofi
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Menopause: Health Impacts and Treatments
- Keywords
- physical activity, bone mineral density, osteoporosis prevention, postmenopausal women, osteopenia, resistance training, home-based exercise, calcium and vitamin D supplementation, trabecular bone, cortical bone, quantitative ultrasound, bone loss, bone pain, lumbar spine, hip bone density, forearm bone mineral density
- MeSH terms
- Aging, Anthropometry, Calcium, Cholecalciferol, Exercise Therapy, Female, Femur Neck, Follow-Up Studies, Forearm, Humans, Lumbar Vertebrae, Middle Aged, Nutritional Status, Patient Dropouts, Bone Density, Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal, Postmenopause, Arthralgia, Dietary Supplements
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