Training in a Local Community Aimed Upon Musculoskeletal Health Promotion for Postmenopausal Women

A Feasibility Study of Training in a Local Community Aimed Upon Health Promotion With Special Emphasis on Musculoskeletal Health Effects

To minimize fracture risk, diverse and varied training of high intensity (multimodal training) is recommended to increase bone strength. However, the effectiveness of different training programmes performed in community settings remain uncertain. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of 19-week of multimodal training in a local community center in Copenhagen, Denmark. The health promotion initiative had special emphasis on musculoskeletal health in postmenopausal women.

A local community center was offering supervised multimodal training (MMT) to postmenopausal, healthy women twice weekly, and the aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and the musculoskeletal health promoting effects of the training. The evaluation study lasted for 19 weeks, and the average attendance rate of MMT participants had to be > 1 hour weekly. The primary outcomes were bone mineral density (BMD) assessed by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanning and the fasted plasma concentration of bone turnover markers (BTM): N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP) , C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), Osteocalcin), while secondary outcomes were body composition variables, dynamic postural balance and functional muscle strength. To test within- and between-group differences in the pre and post outcomes the training group (MMT) was compared with a sedentary control group (CON).

Every participant was fully informed before giving her written informed consent to the procedures and potential discomfort associated with the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local ethics committee of the Capital Region of Denmark, H-18044190.

Inclusion Criteria:

• past menopause
• non-smoking
• BMI <30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• T-score < -3 SD in the lumbar spine or hip
• Z-score > 1.5 SD)
• use of hormone therapy, medical treatment or supplements that affect bone metabolism
• previous or current medical condition affecting bone health
• engagement in regular and systemic weight-bearing training or strength training during the preceding two years