Effects of Physical Training on Bone Turnover and Quality of Life in Osteopenic Postmenopausal Women.

Effects of a 3-month Weight-bearing and Resistance Exercise Training on Circulating Osteoprogenitor Cells and Bone Formation Markers in Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Mass.

The aim of our research was to define both in vivo and in vitro whether and to what extent an high-impact exercise program would affect bone cell turnover and improve the QoL in osteopenic postmenopausal women.

Subjects were selected among those attending the "Bone and Mineral Metabolism Disorders" Clinic of Perugia University, Italy, since May 2nd 2015 and January 31st 2016. A total of 33 post-menopausal women volunteered to participate in the study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• postmenopausal
• bone mineral density T-score less than -1 but more than -2.5 in the total hip or lumbar spine (L1-L4) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry
• be able to attend an exercise program 2 times per week over the 3-month period
• stated availability throughout the entire study period

Exclusion Criteria:

• secondary causes of bone loss such as osteomalacia, glucocorticoid medication
• co-morbidities that would interfere with participation in exercise such as severe heart or pulmonary disease, inflammatory joint disease, severe osteoarthritis, psychiatric condition
• physical or orthopaedic disabilities that would place the subject at risk or limit their ability to perform exercise
• a past vertebral fracture
• history of chronic diseases, such as renal, hepatic, cardiac, and rheumatic diseases
• current or prior use of drugs that could interfere with bone mass (i.e. glucocorticoids, antiresorptive drugs and hormonal replacement therapy)