International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 22 September 2016. Volume70, Issue10, October 2016, Pages 835-842
Summary
Background
Osteoporosis is a growing problem in women after menopause. Among factors protecting from this disease is a physical activity (PA).
Aim
The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of PA in early adulthood and at middle‐age on bone health after menopause.
Material and Methods
The study group consisted of 362 randomly recruited postmenopausal women after menopause. Mean age was 65.2±6.9 years. Medical history was collected from all participants, and they completed questionnaires assessing PA in early adulthood and at middle‐age. Physical capacity was estimated using the Duke scale. Bone status was measured with use of densitometry (DXA) for lumbar spine and hip and calcaneus quantitative ultrasound (QUS) measurements.
Results
Physical activity and healthy lifestyle activity in early adulthood did not correlate with bone health, but current PA did (for QUS parameters r=.11; P<.05). Physical capacity correlated with all QUS parameters (r=.2 to .22; P<.05) and femoral neck (FN) BMD and T‐score (for both r=.16; P<.05). Current PA frequency at the level of several times a week has the highest positive impact on FN DXA results (P=.01). Bone mass in DXA and QUS variables is related to the type of exercises (P<.05).
Conclusion
Physical activity, especially several times a week, at middle‐age is a major factor influencing bone health in women after menopause. Further studies concerning the type of exercises are needed.
