gms | German Medical Science

Physical activity and successful aging
10th International EGREPA Conference

European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity

14.09. - 16.09.2006 in Köln

Effects of two different strength regimes on osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Meeting Abstract

  • O. Männer - University of Bonn, Germany
  • corresponding author P. Preuss - University of Bonn, Germany
  • A. Loskill - Physical Therapy Practice Soyka & Loskill, Germany
  • K. van der Ven - University of Bonn, Germany
  • H.-J. Biersack - University of Bonn, Germany
  • H. Mechling - German Sport University Cologne, Germany

Physical activity and successful aging. Xth International EGREPA Conference. Cologne, 14.-16.09.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. Doc06pasa025

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/pasa2006/06pasa025.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 18. Dezember 2006

© 2006 Männer et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Purpose

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of two health-orientated strength training regimes on bone mineral density (BMD) and maximum strength.

Methods

The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Bonn. All study participants gave written informed consent. 21 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (61.9±4.93 years, 1.66±0.06 m, 66.24±8.35 kg) performed an eccentric emphasised (ET) or isotonic strength training (IT) for 16 weeks. The groups were parallelised by bone mineral density (BMD), training status and complaints. Group ET implemented an eccentric emphasised load (30 to 40 percent). Group IT trained without any accentuation of the eccentric phase. A periodised whole body workout with ten exercises was executed 2 times per week on desmodromic strength training machines (miha maschinen GmbH, Emersacker, Germany). The repetition maximum (1-RM) was determined by a sub maximal testing scheme.

Training cycle 1 of the periodised program consisted of 1 set of 8-15 repetitions with 30-40% of 1-RM, cycle 2 of 2 x 15-20 reps x 50-70% 1-RM and cycle 3 of 2 x 6-12 reps x 70-80% 1-RM. The time under tension was set to a 3 seconds concentric phase, a 1 second isometric tension and a 3 seconds eccentric phase (3/1/3) for cycle 1 and 2. Cycle 3 was performed for 2/1/2 seconds. BMD was measured by DEXA (Lunar DPX, 1994) at the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and at the left proximal femur (neck). Isometric maximum strength was tested for knee extension (KE), knee flexion (KF), Abduction (AB), Butterfly (BF) and Butterfly reverse (BFR) with the Dr. Wolff IsoCheck (mechatronic, Hamm, Germany).

Results

There was no significant increase of BMD in both groups for L2-L4 (+0.52%) and neck (+0.98%). Between groups percentaged changes showed also no differences (ET: L2-L4 +0.7%, neck +1.05%; AT: L2-L4 +0.43%, neck +0.69%).

Maximum isometric strength increased significantly (p=.000) for both groups. Between groups no difference was tested.

Conclusion

Neither BMD nor maximum isometric strength showed differences between groups. After 4 months of periodised strength training both groups displayed significant increases in maximum isometric strength but not for BMD. Overall, currently periodised strength training can be considered as save and effective way of osteoporosis prevention and rehabilitation. In respect to the bone remodelling process future studies should last longer than 4 months to grasp the effects of strength training with an emphasis in eccentric work. Also a control group is considered.