What kind of exercise should be used to treat
osteoporosis?
Moderate- to high-intensity weight-bearing aerobic exercise,
high-intensity progressive resistance training and high-impact
loading (such as jumping) increase BMD (primarily in the spine)
by an average of 1% in pre- and postmenopausal women,51,52
whereas exercise such as low-moderate intensity walking alone
has inconsistent effects on preservation of bone density.53 By
contast, significant benefits of exercise for the femoral neck
are not proven.54 More robust exercise interventions appear to
produce greater effects. Inclusion of weight-lifting and balancetraining
exercises should provide the widest range of benefits
relevant to fracture protection, as well as reducing muscle
weakness, falls risk and depression, and increasing muscle mass
and mobility. Whether these benefits translate into hip fracture
reduction is currently unknown, but it is reasonable to use
exercise for risk factor modification pending completion of
such studies.