Affiliations 

  • 1 Center of Physical Education, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien, 970, Taiwan. win@mail.tcu.edu.tw
  • 2 Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, No. 1, Daxue Rd., East District, Tainan City, 701, Taiwan
  • 3 Department of Sport Promotion, National Taiwan Sport University, No. 250, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan District, Taoyuan City, 333, Taiwan
  • 4 Department of Radiology, Tzu Chi Hospital, No. 707, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd., Hualien City, 970, Taiwan
  • 5 Exercise and Sports Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Osteoporos Int, 2017 02;28(2):539-547.
PMID: 27613719 DOI: 10.1007/s00198-016-3759-4

Abstract

Measurement of bone turnover markers is an alternative way to determine the effects of exercise on bone health. A 10-week group-based step aerobics exercise significantly improved functional fitness in postmenopausal women with low bone mass, and showed a positive trend in reducing resorption activity via bone turnover markers.

INTRODUCTION: The major goal of this study was to determine the effects of short-term group-based step aerobics (GBSA) exercise on the bone metabolism, bone mineral density (BMD), and functional fitness of postmenopausal women (PMW) with low bone mass.

METHODS: Forty-eight PMW (aged 58.2 ± 3.5 years) with low bone mass (lumbar spine BMD T-score of -2.00 ± 0.67) were recruited and randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG) or to a control group (CG). Participants from the EG attended a progressive 10-week GBSA exercise at an intensity of 75-85 % of heart rate reserve, 90 min per session, and three sessions per week. Serum bone metabolic markers (C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen [CTX] and osteocalcin), BMD, and functional fitness components were measured before and after the training program. Mixed-models repeated measures method was used to compare differences between the groups (α = 0.05).

RESULTS: After the 10-week intervention period, there was no significant exercise program by time interaction for CTX; however, the percent change for CTX was significantly different between the groups (EG = -13.1 ± 24.4 % vs. CG = 11.0 ± 51.5 %, P 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.