Abstract
Current guidelines recommend weight-bearing activities, preferably strength training for improving skeletal health in patients with osteoporosis. What type of strength training that is most beneficial for these patients is not established. Maximal strength training (MST) is known to improve 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and rate of force development (RFD), which are considered as important co-variables for skeletal health. Squat exercise MST might serve as an effective intervention for patients with low bone mass. We hypothesized that 12 weeks of squat exercise MST would improve 1RM and RFD in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia and that these changes would coincide with improved bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC), and serum markers of bone metabolism. The participants were randomized to a training group (TG, n = 10) or control group (CG, n = 11). The TG underwent 12 weeks of supervised squat exercise MST, 3 times a week, with emphasis on rapid initiation of the concentric part of the movement. The CG was encouraged to follow current exercise guidelines. Measurements included 1RM, RFD, BMD, BMC, and serum bone metabolism markers; type 1 collagen amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and type 1 collagen C breakdown products (CTX). At posttest, 8 participants remained in each group for statistical analyses. The TG improved the 1RM and RFD by 154 and 52%, respectively. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMC increased by 2.9 and 4.9%. The ratio of serum P1NP/CTX tended to increase (p = 0.09), indicating stimulation of bone formation. In conclusion, squat exercise MST improved 1RM, RFD, and skeletal properties in postmenopausal women with osteopenia or osteoporosis. The MST can be implemented as a simple and effective training method for patients with reduced bone mass.
My comments:
This is a great study! It has a pretty good review of strength training for reversing osteoporosis and then had the patients perform only one exercise; a squat machine for 2 warm-up sets of 8-12 reps (at ~50% of the persons max) then 4 sets of 3-5 reps at 85-90% of their max. The exercises were done 3 times per week for 12 weeks and the result was an increase in hip (femoral neck) bone mineral content of 4.9% (that’s a lot in osteoporosis studies), and an increase in lumbar spine bone mineral content of 2.9%. The strength had improved 154%.
It’s worth talking more about how they did the reps which was explosively with the subjects exploding upwards with the weights as fast as they could. They called this “Maximal Strength Training” (MST) which is a new term for me but sounds identical to Compensatory Acceleration Training (CAT) coined by Fred Hatfield back in the 80’s. Some say tomato and some say potato but either way I expect the exploding with the weights throughout the concentric (upward) motion is a better way to train. As I recall studies from the 90’s showing it increased strength better than conventional weight lifting exercises with college students being the subjects. When I was doing Olympic Weightlifting at NAU, pretty much all our reps were explosive. So it’s cool to see explosive training with weights being applied to and helping elderly women with osteoporosis. It goes to show, yet again, that the best techniques for physical therapy come out of the weight room rather than the classroom.
Thanks for reading my blog. If you have any questions or comments (even hostile ones) please don’t hesitate to ask/share. If you’re reading one of my older blogs, perhaps unrelated to neck or back pain, and it helps you, please remember SpineFit Yoga for you or someone you know in the future.
Chad Reilly is a Physical Therapist, obtaining his Master’s in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. Exercise Science also from NAU. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and holds a USA Weightlifting Club Coach Certification as well as a NASM Personal Training Certificate. Chad completed his Yoga Teacher Training at Sampoorna Yoga in Goa, India.
Leave a Reply