Weight moved in one year of strength training and femur trochanter bone density change in 140 post-menopausal women: A dose-response relationship

Abstract

Osteoporosis or very low bone mineral density (BMD) has been shown to increase the risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women. Exercise, particularly strength training, may increase BMD in older women and thus help prevent osteoporosis and hip fracture. Change in femur trochanter BMD was examined in 140 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Bone Estrogen Strength Training (BEST) Study who performed a one-year progressive resistance training program. A significant 0.012 ± 0.024 g/cm² increase in femur trochanter BMD was found from baseline to 1 year for the entire group. In multiple linear regression, the increase was positively and linearly related to the total weight moved (p < .015) even after adjustment for age, baseline trochanter BMD, HRT status, change in body weight, cohort, and fitness center. Among individual exercises, the squats showed the strongest while the back extension exhibited the weakest association with change in BMD.