The effect of calisthenic home exercises on postmenopausal fractures - a long-term observational study

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effects of calisthenic home exercises on the incidence of fractures in postmenopausal women. Design : Controlled long-term observational study. Methods: Postmenopausal women between 45 an d 75 years of age who had been randomly assigned to an exercise or control group in the course of a previous study conducted 5 - 10 years ago, were in vited for follow-up. The number of fractures before and during the observat ion time were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Vertebral deformities d ue to fractures were diagnosed by X-rays at entry and at follow-up. Walking speed, muscle strength, static posturography, and maximum oxygen uptake we re measured in addition. Results: After an average follow-up time of 7.6 +/ - 1.1 years, 73 women of the exercise group and 64 subjects of the control group were investigated. Thirty-three per cent (n = 24) of the exercise gro up reported to have exercised continuously at least three times a week for 20 min. No intergroup differences between the compliant and non-compliant e xercisers and the control group were seen in the number of fractures. Howev er, the incidence of fracture was lowest in women with a baseline bone mass less than one standard deviation (SID) below the mean for young adults (hi gh BMC) and highest in those with more than 2.5 SD below the mean for young adults (low BMC (P < 0.001, odds ratio 2.9 [95% CI, 1.59 - 5.39]). conclus ion : This long-term follow-up did not produce any evidence that prescripti on of a calisthenic home exercise program may prevent fractures in postmeno pausal women aged between 61 +/- 6.4 and 68 +/- 6.5 years, (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.