The Effect of Exercise on Physical Function in Older Women With Osteoporosis and a History of Vertebral Fracture

The Effect of Exercise on Physical Function in Older Women With Osteoporosis and a History of Vertebral Fracture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study is a parallel-group single blinded randomized controlled trial, examining the effect of exercise on physical function in older women with osteoporosis and a history of vertebral fracture. The participants will randomly be assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention group and the control group. The intervention will follow newly developed exercise recommendations for people with osteoporosis and vertebral fractures, which states the balance- and strength exercises should be performed at least twice a week. The intervention is a group exercise session circuit program lasting for 12 weeks. The participants will be tested at baseline, and followed up at 3 months and 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women over 65 years, living at home, able to walk with or without walking aids
• having osteoporosis verified by DXA scan (-2,5)
• at least one vertebral fracture, verified by X-ray

Exclusion Criteria:

• Health conditions that make it unsafe to exercise
• not able to understand and speak Norwegian adequately to participate in the intervention