RESISTIVE TRAINING MAINTAINS BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

We examined the effects of a total body resistive training program (RT ) on total and regional bone mineral density (BMD) in older women. Twe nty-seven healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 62 +/- 1 years) parti cipated in a strength training program three times/week for 16 weeks. Strength was assessed before and after training by either one or three repetition maximum (1RM and 3RM) tests. Both upper and lower body str ength significantly increased by 36-65% and 32-98%, respectively, afte r training. There was a small but significant decrease in body weight and body mass index after training (P < 0.05), with no change in the w aist-to-hip ratio. BMD, assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, did not change over the duration of the training period in the anterio posterior spine (L-2-L-4), femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and greater trochanter. BMD of the total body, lateral spine (B-2-B-4), and the re gions of the radius (1/3 radius and ultradistal radius) also did not f all in subsets of these women. Muscular strength of both the leg and c hest press were significantly associated with L-2-L-4, femoral neck, W ard's triangle, and greater trochanter BMD (range r = 0.57-0.84, all P < 0.005). Markers of bone turnover, namely, bone-specific alkaline ph osphatase, osteocalcin, and urinary aminoterminal cross-linked telopep tide of type I collagen did not change significantly. In conclusion, a resistive training program maintains BMD and improves muscular streng th in healthy, older women. This may be important in preventing the ne gative health outcomes associated with the age-related loss of bone de nsity.