Effect of High-Impact Aerobics and Strength Training on BMD in Young Women Aged 20–35 Years

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of a 12-month exercise intervention using either high-impact step aerobic exercise or moderate-intensity strength training on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) we studied 51 untrained women, aged 20–35 years, for this study. Whole body and heel and wrist aBMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, Hologic or PIXI Lunar). Subjects were randomly assigned to: impact-loaded step aerobic exercise (SA, n=15), moderate-intensity lower body strength training (ST, n=16) or non-exercise control (CON, n=20). Data analysis only included those who completed 95% of each training routine and attended at least 80% of all sessions. Group differences in aBMD, leg press strength and urinary cross-link deoxypridinoline (μDPD) were analysed using analysis of variance. After a 12-month intervention, the SA elicited an increase in aBMD of the heel (4.4%, p<0.05) and leg press strength (15%, p<0.05), relative to baseline. Meanwhile, the ST showed an increase in leg press strength (48%, p<0.05) with no significant increase in aBMD at any measured site. Similar and unchanged μDPD was observed in all 3 groups at baseline, 6 and 12 months. In conclusion, a 12-month high-impact step aerobic exercise resulted in a significant increase in the heel aBMD in untrained young women, who complied with the exercise regimen. A moderate intensity strength training intervention of similar duration had no effect on aBMD although leg strength increased significantly.

Key words

heel and wrist BMD - leg press strength - femoral neck BMD - cross-link deoxypridinoline - young women - untrained

References

• 1 American College of Sports Medicine .ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th ed Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000: 13-23
• 2 Bassey EJ, Rothwell MC, Littlewood JJ, Pye DW. Pre- and postmenopausal women have different bone mineral density responses to the same high-impact exercise.  J Bone Miner Res. 1998;  13 1805-1813
• 3 Berenson AB, Breitkopf CR, Grady JJ, Rickert VI, Thomas A. Effects of hormonal contraception on bone mineral density after 24 months of use.  Obstet Gynecol. 2004;  103 899-906
• 4 Breit GA, Whalen RT. Prediction of human gait parameters from temporal measures of foot-ground contact.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;  29 540-547
• 5 Chilibeck PD, Calder A, Sale DG, Webber CE. Twenty weeks of weight training increases lean tissue mass but not bone mineral mass or density in healthy, active young women.  Can J Physiol Pharmaco. 1996;  74 1180-1185
• 6 Friedlander AL, Genant HK, Sadowsky S, Byl NN, Gluer CC. A two-year program of aerobics and weight training enhances bone mineral density of young women.  J Bone Miner Res. 1995;  10 574-585
• 7 Frost HM. The mechanostat: a proposed pathogenic mechanism of osteoporoses and the bone mass effects of mechanical and nonmechanical agents.  Bone Miner. 1987;  2 73-85
• 8 Gleeson PB, Protas EJ, LeBlanc AD, Schneider VS, Evans HJ. Effects of weight lifting on bone mineral density in premenopausal women.  J Bone Miner Res. 1990;  5 153-158
• 9 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
• 10 Heinonen A, Kannus P, Sievanen H, Oja P, Pasanen M, Rinne M, Uusi-Rasi K, Vuori I. Randomised controlled trial of effect of high-impact exercise on selected risk factors for osteoporosis fractures.  Lancet. 1996;  16; 348 1343-1346
• 11 Kelley GA, Kelley KS. Efficacy of resistance exercise on lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density in premenopausal women: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.  J Women's Health. 2004;  13 293-300
• 12 Kemper HC, Twisk JW, van Mechelen W, Post GB, Roos JC, Lips PA. A fifteen-year longitudinal study in young adults on the relation of physical activity and fitness with the development of the bone mass: The Amsterdam Growth And Health Longitudinal Study.  Bone. 2000;  27 847-853
• 13 Kraemer WJ, Ratamess N, Fry AC, Triplett-McBride T, Koziris LP, Bauer JA, Lynch JM, Fleck SJ. Influence of resistance training volume and periodization on physiological and performance adaptations in collegiate women tennis players.  Am J Sports Med. 2000;  28 626-633
• 14 Lanyon LE, Rubin CT. Static versus dynamic loads as an influence on bone remodeling.  J Biomech. 1984;  17 897-905
• 15 Liang MTC, Bassin S, Dutto D, Braun W, Wong N, Pontello AM, Cooper DM, Arnaud SB. Bone mineral density and leg muscle strength in young Caucasian, Hispanic, and Asian women.  J Clin Densitom. 2007;  10 157-164
• 16 Liu-Ambrose T, Kravetsky L, Bailey D, Baxter-Jones A, Sherar L, Mundt C, Khan KM, McKay HA. Change in lean body mass is a major determinant of change in areal bone mineral density of the proximal femur: A 12-year observational study.  Calcif Tissue Int. 2006;  79 145-151
• 17 Lohman T, Going S, Pamenter R, Hall M, Boyden T, Houtkooper L, Ritenbaugh C, Bare L, Hill A, Aickin M. Effects of resistance training on regional and total bone mineral density in premenopausal women: A randomized prospective study.  J Bone Miner Res. 1995;  10 1015-1024
• 18 Marcus R. Exercise: Moving in the right direction.  J Bone Miner Res. 1998;  13 1793-1797
• 19 Martin RB, Ishida I. The relative effects of collagen fiber orientation, porosity, density, and mineralization on bone strength.  J Biomech. 1989;  22 419-426
• 20 Optimal calcium intake . National Institutions of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement June 6–8.  1994;  12 1-31 Available from: http://text.nlm.nih.gov/nih/cdc/www/97txt.html
• 21 Powers SK, Howley ET. Exercise Physiology. 6th ed Boston (MA): McGraw Hill; 2007: 303
• 22 Rockwell JC, Sorensen AM, Baker S, Leahey D, Stock JL, Michaels J. Weight training decreases vertebral bone density in premenopausal women: a prospective study.  J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990;  71 988-993
• 23 Sinaki M, Wahner HW, Bergstralh EJ, Hodgson SF, Offord KP, Squires RW, Swee RG, Kao PC. Three-year controlled, randomized trial of the effect of dose-specified loading and strengthening exercises on bone mineral density of spine and femur in nonathletic, physically active women.  Bone. 1996;  19 233-244
• 24 Snow-Harter C, Bouxsein ML, Lewis BT, Carter DR, Marcus R. Effects of resistance and endurance exercise on bone mineral status of young women: a randomized exercise intervention trial.  J Bone Miner Res. 1992;  7 761-769
• 25 Taaffe DR, Robinson TL, Snow CM, Marcus R. High-impact exercise promotes bone gain in well-trained female athletes.  J Bone Miner Res. 1997;  12 255-260
• 26 Vainiopää A, Korpelainen R, Leppaluoto J, Jamsa T. Effects of high-impact exercise on bone mineral density: a randomized controlled trial in premenopausal women.  Osteoporos Int. 2005;  16 191-197
• 27 Vainiopää A, Korpelainen R, Vihriala E, Rinta-Paavola A, Leppaluoto J, Jamsa T. Intensity of exercise is associated with bone density change in premenopausal women.  Osteoporos Int. 2006;  17 455-463
• 28 Vuori I, Heinonen A, Sievänen H, Kannus P, Pasanen M, Oja P. Effects of unilateral strength training and detraining on bone mineral density and content in young women: a study of mechanical loading and deloading on human bones.  Calcif Tissue Int. 1994;  55 59-67
• 29 Wallace BA, Cumming RG. Systematic review of randomized trials of the effect of exercise on bone mass in pre- and postmenopausal women.  Calcif Tissue Int. 2000;  67 10-18
• 30 Weaver CM, Teegarden D, Lyle RM, McCabe GP, McCabe LD, Proulx W, Kern M, Sedlock D, Anderson DD, Hillberry BM, Peacock M, Johnston CC. Impact of exercise on bone health and contraindication of oral contraceptive use in young women.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 873-880
• 31 Weinstein RS. True strength.  J Bone Miner Res. 2000;  15 621-625
• 32 Winters KM, Snow CM. Detraining reverses positive effects of exercise on the musculoskeletal system in premenopausal women.  J Bone Miner Res. 2000;  15 2495-2503
• 33 Winters-Stone KM, Snow CM. Musculoskeletal response to exercise is greatest in women with low initial values.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;  35 1691-1696

Correspondence