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Veel bewegen heel goed voor
botten bij osteoporosis.*
Benefits
of 2 Years of Intense Exercise on Bone Density, Physical Fitness, and Blood
Lipids in Early Postmenopausal Osteopenic Women
Results
of the Erlangen Fitness Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS)
Wolfgang Kemmler,
PhD; Dirk Lauber, PhD; Jόrgen Weineck, PhD, MD; Johannes Hensen, MD; Willi
Kalender, PhD; Klaus Engelke, PhD
Background
Growing evidence indicates that physical exercise can prevent at
least some of the negative effects on health associated with early
menopause. Here we determine the effects of intense exercise on
physical fitness, bone mineral density (BMD), back pain, and blood
lipids in early postmenopausal women.
Methods The
study population comprised 50 fully compliant women, with no
medication or illness affecting bone metabolism, who exercised over
26 months (exercise group [EG]), and 33 women who served as a
nontraining control group (CG). Two group training sessions per week
and 2 home training sessions per week were performed in the EG. Both
groups were individually supplemented with calcium and
cholecalciferol. Physical fitness was determined by maximum strength
and cardiovascular performance. Bone mineral density was measured at
the lumbar spine (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA] and
quantitative computed tomography [QCT]), the proximal femur (DXA),
and the forearm (DXA). In serum samples taken from a subset of the
study participants, we determined bone formation (serum osteocalcin)
and resorption (serum cross-links) markers as well as blood lipid
levels. Vasomotor symptoms related to menopause and pain were also
assessed.
Results
After 26 months, significant exercise effects determined as
percentage changes compared with baseline were observed for physical
fitness (isometric strength: trunk extensors [EG +36.5% vs CG +1.7%],
trunk flexors [EG +39.3% vs CG 0.4%], and maximum oxygen
consumption [EG +12.4% vs CG 2.3%]); BMD (lumbar spine [DXA L1-L4,
EG +0.7% vs CG 2.3%], QCT L1-L3 trabecular region of interest [EG
+0.4% vs CG 6.6%], QCT L1-L3 cortical region of interest [EG +3.1%
vs CG 1.7%], and total hip [DXA, EG 0.3% vs CG 1.7%]); serum
levels (total cholesterol [EG 5.0% vs CG +4.1%] and triglycerides [EG
14.2% vs CG +23.2%]); and pain indexes at the spine.
Conclusion
General purpose exercise programs with special emphasis on bone
density can significantly improve strength and endurance and reduce
bone loss, back pain, and lipid levels in osteopenic women in their
critical early postmenopausal years.
From the Institute of Medical Physics (Drs Kemmler, Kalender, and Engelke), and Institute of Sport Sciences (Drs Lauber and Weineck), University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum Hannover Nordstadt, Hannover, Germany (Dr Hensen). The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164:1084-1091