Bone strength and density via pQCT in post-menopausal osteopenic women after 9 months resistive exercise with whole body vibration or proprioceptive exercise

OBJECTIVES: In order to better understand which training approaches are more effective for preventing bone loss in post-menopausal women with low bone mass, we examined the effect of a nine-month resistive exercise program with either an additional whole body vibration exercise (VIB) or balance training (BAL). METHODS: 68 post-menopausal women with osteopenia were recruited for the study and were randomised to either the VIB or BAL group. Two training sessions per week were performed. 57 subjects completed the study (VIB n=26; BAL n=31). Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measurements of the tibia, fibula, radius and ulna were performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention period at the epiphysis (4% site) and diaphysis (66% site). Analysis was done on an intent-to-treat approach. RESULTS: Significant increases in bone density and strength were seen at a number of measurement sites after the intervention period. No significant differences were seen in the response of the two groups at the lower-leg. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence that a twice weekly resistive exercise program with either additional balance or vibration training could increase bone density at the distal tibia after a nine-month intervention period in post-menopausal women with low bone mass.