Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis and Musculoskeletal Status: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundWith increased life expectancy of the world's population that has taken place in recent decades, there has been growth in the incidence of illnesses of the most advanced ages, including osteoporosis. However, changes in musculoskeletal disorders are not yet so clear. This study proposes to evaluate musculoskeletal alterations in osteoporotic postmenopausal women and healthy and correlate with bone mineral density of the lumbar spine.MethodsRandomized, examiner-blinded, comparative cross-sectional study was designed with two groups of women attending the Menopause Clinic in the UNICAMP, 30 women with osteoporosis, while 33 women without osteoporosis comprised the second group. Diagnosis of the presence or absence of osteoporosis was based on bone densitometry performed on the lumbar spine. Volunteers were interviewed and underwent a physical examination with the same examiner, including the muscle strength and amplitude of movement of back flexion and extension, angles of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, as well as static and dynamic balance.ResultsMean back flexors and extensors strength was significantly lower in women with osteoporosis (P < 0.01). Flexion spinal range of motion was similar in both groups (P = 0.91). However, movement amplitude of spine extension was 20.5o in women with osteoporosis and 28.4o in women without osteoporosis. Thoracic kyphosis angles from T1 to T4 (P < 0.01) and lumbar lordosis angles (P = 0.02) were greater in women with osteoporosis. Seventy-three point three percent of women with osteoporosis and 78.8% of women without osteoporosis had good reply to static balance. Women in both groups had poor results to dynamic balance. No significant differences were observed in static or dynamic balance between women with and without osteoporosis. Vertebral fractures were present in 20% of women with osteoporosis and absent in women without osteoporosis.ConclusionsWomen with osteoporosis in the study population had poorer musculoskeletal status than women without osteoporosis. Further studies are necessary to evaluate whether correction of these alterations would be related to preventing falls and reducing fracture risk.KeywordsBalance; Kyphosis; Mobility; Muscle strength; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal

Relationship between core stability and dynamic balance in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis

“…Suri et al [38] suggested that the trunk extension endurance and strength were associated with mobility and balance in older adults. Cunha-Henriques et al [39] showed that the trunk flexor and extensor strength in females with osteoporosis were significantly lower than that of the females without osteoporosis. However, there was no significant difference in the static balance between females with and without osteoporosis.…”

“…Furthermore, previous studies assessed the isometric muscle strength in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, particularly back strength. [39][40][41][42] In the present study, the relationship between the core muscle endurance and dynamic balance was investigated, as we hypothesized that the evaluation of the core muscle endurance would be more suitable in determining the relationship between core muscles and dynamic balance in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Core muscle endurance tests may be considered as troublesome for older adults.…”

“…However, our sample size is larger than previous studies. [7,34,39] In the future, further controlled studies on this subject can be planned.…”

Knowledge and Risk Factors for Osteoporosis among Pre-elderly

“…In their study, CunhaHenriques et al 15 , showed that the clinical characteristics height of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis are shorter than those without osteoporosis. Out of 135 female respondents in this study, 18 people (13.3%) experienced menopause before the age of 45 years.…”

Effect of the lipoxygenase inhibitor baicalein on muscles in ovariectomized rats

“…Sarcopenia, a loss of skeletal muscle mass, emerges during the development of osteoporosis [3][4][5][6]. This results in a higher risk of falls and, consequently, fall-related injuries [7,8].…”