EXERCISE TRAINING AND BONE-MINERAL DENSITY

The effect of exercise training on total and regional bone mineral den sity (BMD) in postmenopausal women is reviewed. Several studies on the non-estrogen-replete postmenopausal population show 1-2% changes in r egional BMD with one year of weight-bearing exercises. Studies of exer cise training in the estrogen-replete postmenopausal population sugges t large BMD changes. The long-term effect of exercise on the rate of l oss in BMD after menopause and its effects on osteoporotic fractures i s a critical area for future investigations.