COMPARISON OF A GROUP-BASED VERSUS A HOME-BASED EXERCISE PROGRAM IN OSTEOPENIC WOMEN

A recently completed randomized controlled trial documented the effect s of a 1-year group-based exercise program in osteopenic women. The pr esent study concerns the comparison of these effects to those produced by a home-based exercise program tested on the same population. All 6 3 women who had been randomly assigned to the control group in the pre vious study were invited to enroll in the home program. Comparison of pre- and posttest scores of home exercisers revealed improvements in a gility and well-being. In comparison, women who had participated 1 yea r earlier in the group-based exercise program had improved on four of the five fitness tests, well-being, and pain intensity. More women in the group-based exercise program showed improvement in self-rated heal th in comparison to those enrolled in the home program. Results sugges t that for osteopenic women, a group-based exercise program is much mo re effective than a home-based exercise program.