Weight-bearing exercises and bone mineral density in postmenopausal osteopenia: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Weight-bearing exercises provide an effective way to stress important sites of bones enhancing the improvement of bone mineral density. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Weight-bearing Exercise for Better Balance program on bone mineral density in postmenopausal females with osteopenia. Methods: Twenty-four postmenopausal females with osteopenia were randomly assigned into two equal groups; experimental and control. The Weight-bearing Exercise for Better Balance program was performed by the experimental group while the control group didn’t receive any treatment. Bone mineral density T-scores were measured for all participants in both groups by the dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scan of spine. Measurements were done twice before and after six weeks of the program. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the post testing mean values of bone mineral density T-scores compared with the pre testing ones in the experimental group. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in the post testing mean values of bone mineral density T-scores between the two tested groups. Conclusions: Six weeks of Weight-bearing Exercise for Better Balance program are not enough to produce significant effects on bone mineral density in postmenopausal females with osteopenia. Trial registeration: PACTR201602001478123.