Abstract
Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease and in fact it is a silent epidemic problem that could causes many dangerous fractures. In this condition bone mass reduces, so fractures can easily occur. Considering the occurrence of fractures in hip, wrist and lumbar spine bones in older woman, this study has been designed for determining the bone density in those bones and balance in post menopause women with and without history of regular exercise in same socioeconomic condition in order to evaluate the role of exercise in bone density and balance.
Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which has been done in Sina hospital of Tabriz. There were 60 postmenopausal women, 20 women in group one whitout history of exercise, 20 women in group two that had at least 5 year history of regular exercise before menopause, 20 women in group three that had at least 5 year history of regular exercise after menopause. Subjects with any metabolic or hormonal and neurologic abnormality excluded from study. Bone densitometry was performed from hip, wrist and lumbar spine with using DEXA bone densitometry instrument and balance was tested with the balance board instrument.
Redults: The mean age, mean menopansal age and mean BMI in 3 groups were 57.4±6.5, 47.9± 4.6 and 28.2±3.4 respectively. Mean of T-score of hip bone in first, second and third groups were -1.3±0.67, - 0.53±0.73 and -0.92±1.1 respectively. Mean of Z-score of hip bone in first, second and third groups were -0.4 ±0.91, 0.39 ±0.68 and -0.05±0.79 respectively. Mean of balance maintenance test (second) in first, second and third groups were 18.27, 43.33 and 29.9 respectively. There were significant difference between first and second groups in T-score of hip and balance test. (P<0.05)
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the women with history of regular exercise before menopause had higher bone density in hip region due to osteogenic effect of mechanical load. According to these results recommendation of regular exercise can help to increase bone density and reduces the risk of fractures and its morbidity and mortality in elderly women. Exercise also improves the balance and reduces the risk of falling too. It is concluded that exercise has an important role in preventing of fractures.