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.