Volume 66 Number 3  May 1999	back to contents

Osteoporosis and Exercise: A Review	197 - 200
Parag Sheth, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Address correspondence to Parag Sheth, M.D., Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Box 1240B, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One East 100th Street, New York, NY 10029-6574 or address e-mail to: msjourn@doc.mssm.edu

ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:  Osteoporosis is a widespread bone disorder which primarily effects postmenopausal women, with annual costs of six billion dollars.  Several studies have looked at the potential value of exercise as an inexpensive and widely available treatment.

METHODS:  Using Medline, English-language articles published after 1989 in major medical journals and containing the key words 'exercise' and 'osteoporosis' were obtained.  Selected prospective studies which included twenty or more subjects were reviewed with special attention to the exercise portion of the protocol.  Studies felt to be historically important were also reviewed.

RESULTS:  Quality of studies, design types and exercise intervention varied greatly.  Detailed exercise protocols, high compliance rates and low drop-out rates appeared to favorably effect results.

CONCLUSION:  As a whole, the literature suggests that exercise induced improvement in bone mineral density in select individuals.  Based on the review the author suggests an ideal program.
 

KEY WORDS
Exercise, osteoporosis, bone mineral density, review

MSSM Home

Back Issues | Indexes | Search | Journal Home