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A meta-analysis of brief high-impact exercises for enhancing bone health in premenopausal women

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Abstract

Summary

A snapshot of current evidence from 6 randomised controlled trials for the effects of short bouts of high-impact exercises in 256 women via meta-analysis reveals that ample osteogenic response could be realised at the femoral neck and trochanter of premenopausal women with rest-inserted bouts of few mechanical bone loading cycles.

Introduction

Exercise is an important means of improving bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Brief bouts of simple exercises may be useful for aiding lifestyle compliance to physical activity. This study aimed to review the evidence on the effect of brief, high-impact exercise on bone health among premenopausal women.

Methods

A structured and comprehensive search of databases was undertaken along with hand searching of key journals and reference lists to locate relevant studies published and unpublished up to January 2011. Six randomised controlled trials met predetermined inclusion criteria. Brief high-impact exercises (<30 min) were examined for their effect on bone mineral density (BMD) among premenopausal women. Trial quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool. Study outcomes for analysis, absolute change (grams per square centimetre) or relative change (in percent) in BMD at femoral neck, trochanter and lumbar spine were compared by calculating standardised mean difference (SMD) using fixed- and random effects models.

Results

Quality of included trials varied from medium to high on a scale of 1 to 3. Brief bouts of exercise led to significant increases in femoral neck BMD (SMD = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.38, 0.90, overall effect Z value = 4.84, p = 0.001); a modest increase in trochanteric BMD (SMD = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.61, Z value = 2.08, p = 0.04) and no increase in spinal BMD (SMD = 0.04, 95% CI = −0.23, 0.31, Z value = 0.26, p = 0.79).

Conclusion

Based on the meta-analysis, brief high-impact exercise improves BMD at the hip but not at the lumbar spine. Effectiveness of this form of exercise as a lifestyle physical activity for prevention of osteoporosis should be explored in larger populations.

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Acknowledgements

The guidance of Professor Nachiappan Chockalingam in the conduct of this study is graciously appreciated.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Correspondence to O. O. Babatunde.

Appendix 1. Search strategy

Appendix 1. Search strategy

Databases searched: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, SportDiscus, Cochrane controlled trials register, ProQuest and CINAHL.

  1. 1.

    exercis*.ti,ab

  2. 2.

    exp EXERCISE/

  3. 3.

    (high AND impact AND exercise).af

  4. 4.

    (brief AND exercise).ti,ab

  5. 5.

    1 OR 2 OR 3 OR 4

  6. 6.

    (bone AND m*).ti,ab

  7. 7.

    BONE DENSITY/

  8. 8.

    6 OR 7

  9. 9.

    5 AND 8

  10. 10.

    9 [Limit to: (Gender Female)]

  11. 11.

    9 [Limit to: (Gender Female) and (Age Groups Adults)]

Search format was repeated for all the databases.

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Babatunde, O.O., Forsyth, J.J. & Gidlow, C.J. A meta-analysis of brief high-impact exercises for enhancing bone health in premenopausal women. Osteoporos Int 23, 109–119 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1801-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1801-0

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