For Premier Therapy’s medical detective series, we will be covering the effect of a twelve-month Resistance Training on Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis or Osteopenia.
Osteoporosis is a condition that relates to the loss of bone which causes them to become brittle over time. This disease has been shown to cause spinal compression fractures due to bones becoming weak. Osteopenia, which is the midway point to osteoporosis, is defined as the condition when you start to lose bone mass and the bones become weaker.
Immunological metabolic and endocrine disorders can play a crucial role in bone frailty. Ongoing research states that by twenty years old, people reach their peak bone mineral density. This number starts to decline as we age if we do not promote bone health. Regular exercise has been shown to decrease the effects of osteoporosis. Women especially in the post-menopausal period are most at risk of developing osteopenia which can lead to osteoporosis. Research done by Holubiac et al. has thoroughly investigated post-menopausal women and the effects of implementing a twelve-month resistance program.
The researchers hypothesized that improvements in well-being and quality of life will be obtained following the participation of women with osteopenia and osteoporosis in a training program using the Bulgarian technique. The Bulgarian method utilizes certain weightlifting movements using a 1RM. The study participants performed the training 2x a week for fifty minutes using open kinetic chain exercises to not aggravate pressure on the bones.
The selected exercises performed were scott bench biceps curls, bodyweight squats, seated knee extension, prone hamstring curls, horizontal leg press, seated hip adduction, standing hip extension, standing hip flexion, seated back extension, seated machine dip, and seated hip abduction. Here at Premier Therapy, we create a unique plan that includes the exercises above to fit each client’s physical needs. We combine exercise with neuromuscular electrical
stimulation to pinpoint specific muscles that are weak. Our patients have shown improvement in overall bone health and functional movement.
According to the research above, once the program was completed, the score calculated for well-being and quality of life improved in the exercise group compared to the control group in 4 domains. The domains that showed improvement were mental function, general health, social activity, and pain. Other studies have shown it is a necessity to practice resistant-based physical exercises to improve well-being and quality of life in people with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Oftentimes at Premier Therapy patients come in with wrist or spine fractures, through an evaluation Dr. Corsa can find signs of osteoporosis and highly recommends patients get a bone density scan if they are having fractures.
