A recent randomized controlled trial led by researchers Hande Basat, Sina Esmaeilzadeh, and Nurten Eskiyurt has demonstrated promising benefits of exercise on bone health and quality of life in postmenopausal women. The study, spanning six months, investigated the impact of strengthening and high-impact exercises on bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

The study included 42 postmenopausal women who were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a strengthening exercise group, a high-impact exercise group, and a control group with no exercise intervention. Each exercise group participated in a supervised training program, consisting of one-hour sessions three times a week for six months.

Remarkable improvements were observed in the high-impact exercise group, with significant increases in BMD at both the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and femoral neck regions. The lumbar spine BMD increased significantly (p=0.017), as did the femoral neck BMD (p=0.013), compared to the strengthening exercise and control groups.

The high-impact exercise group also showed favorable changes in bone turnover markers. Serum osteocalcin (OC), a marker of bone formation, increased significantly (p=0.033), while N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTx), a marker of bone resorption, decreased significantly (p=0.034).

Both exercise groups experienced significant improvements in HRQoL (p<0.001), highlighting the positive impact of regular, supervised exercise on overall well-being in postmenopausal women.

This study underscores the potential of high-impact exercise training to prevent bone loss at critical sites such as the lumbar spine and femoral neck. Additionally, it highlights that both high-impact and strengthening exercise programs can significantly enhance the quality of life in postmenopausal women. The findings suggest that incorporating structured, supervised exercise regimens can be a vital strategy for improving bone health and overall well-being in this population.

Reference: Basat, H., Esmaeilzadeh, S., & Eskiyurt, N. (2013). The effects of strengthening and high-impact exercises on bone metabolism and quality of life in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, 26(4), 427-435.