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The effect of exercise on pQCT parameters of bone structure and strength in postmenopausal women—a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Summary

Inconsistent study findings of exercise on areal bone density highlight the need to include parameters of bone geometry and volumetric bone density measurements. Using a systematic review and meta-analysis, we found a decrease in bone loss through the maintenance of cortical and trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (BMD). Studies with longer exercise durations and larger sample sizes are needed.

Introduction

Exercise has long been recommended to prevent age-related loss of bone mass in postmenopausal women. However, inconsistent study findings on the effect of exercise on BMD preservation have highlighted the importance of extending the evaluation of bone to include the parameters of bone geometry. We conducted both a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise on bone geometry and volumetric BMD in postmenopausal women.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE from 1950 to April 2009 and included prospective, randomized controlled trials of healthy postmenopausal women where the intervention involved exercise or sport and outcomes included quantitative or peripheral quantitative computed tomography bone parameters. Outcome variables included: total volumetric BMD, cortical volumetric BMD (CvBMD), trabecular volumetric BMD (TrvBMD), total bone mineral content, cortical BMC, total bone area, cortical area, polar stress–strain index, and bone strength index.

Results

Six studies satisfied our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Lower extremity exercises resulted in small (∼0.9%) but significant improvements in TrvBMD of the distal tibia (p = 0.0006) and in CvBMD of the tibial shaft (p = 0.0007). Studies with longer durations of exercise (12 months) and those in early postmenopausal women showed significant changes in CvBMD at the tibial shaft.

Conclusions

We conclude that exercise in postmenopausal women may decrease bone loss by maintaining cortical and trabecular volumetric BMD. To better understand the effect of exercise on bone geometric structure and strength, more studies of longer duration and larger sample sizes are needed.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to sincerely thank the librarians of The Scarborough Hospital, General Division, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, Deborah Lambert, and Judy Ng and the librarian of the Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Rita Shaughnessy for their assistance with the literature searches, as well as Zoe Agnidis for her assistance in the preparation of this manuscript. We also wish to thank Debra Butt and Conor McDermott for their guidance, inspiration, and support in the production of this paper. Dr. A.M. Cheung is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Institute of Gender and Health Senior Scientist Award and the University of Toronto/University Health Network Lillian Love Chair in Women’s Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, The Scarborough General Medical Mall, 309-3030 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario, M1P 2T7, Canada

    I. Polidoulis

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada

    J. Beyene

  3. University Health Network/Mount Sinai Hospital, Eaton North Wing, 7th Floor Room 7EN221, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada

    A. M. Cheung

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  1. I. Polidoulis
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Correspondence to A. M. Cheung.

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Polidoulis, I., Beyene, J. & Cheung, A.M. The effect of exercise on pQCT parameters of bone structure and strength in postmenopausal women—a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoporos Int 23, 39–51 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1734-7

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