Abstract
Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is one of the health problems that affects lives of many postmenopausal women. This disease is associated with many factors such as low physical activity. The present study was conducted to determine relationship between physical activity and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
Material and Methods: This study carried on 58 postmenopausal women(50-70 years old).Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) were performed at L2-L4 spine and FN hip with the use of Dual Energy X- ray Absorptiometry ( DEXA).Physical activity assessed by questionnaire for 3 days. To determine the relationship between quantitative variables
chi-square test was used.
Results: According to results of present study, after bone densitometry subjects were classified into 3 groups: 18 women with normal bone status (T-score-1), 22 women with osteopenia (-2.5 -score< -1) and 18 women with osteoporosis (T-score -2.5). In normal group 72.2% had moderate activity and in osteoporosis group 77.8% had light activity. There was significant correlation between physical activity and bone mineral density in all groups (P=0.002).
Conclusion: As there was significant correlation between physical activity and bone mineral density, therefore increasing physical activity is highly recommended to maintain bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.