The benefits of a high-intensity aquatic exercise program (HydrOS) for bone metabolism and bone mass of postmenopausal women

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the 24-week effects of a high-intensity aquatic exercise program on bone remodeling markers and bone mass of postmenopausal women. In this randomized, controlled trial we studied 108 women (58.8 ± 6.4 years), randomized into Aquatic Exercise Group (AEG), n = 64, performing 24 weeks of aquatic exercises, and Control Group (CG), n = 44, sedentary. They had their fasting morning blood sample collected for the measures of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx). Bone mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before and after the intervention. Participants of both groups received a daily supplementation of 500 mg of elementary calcium and 1,000 IU of vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Results showed an augment in bone formation marker (P1NP) only in the AEG (15.8 %; p = 0.001), and although both groups experienced significant enhancements in bone resorption marker (CTx), this increase was less considerable in the AEG (15 % in the AEG and 29 % in the CG). IPTH was increased by 19 % in the CG (p = 0.003) at the end. The femoral trochanter BMD presented a 1.2 % reduction in the CG (p = 0.009), whereas in the AEG no change was observed (p = 0.069). The proposed aquatic exercise program was efficient in attenuating bone resorption raise and enhancing bone formation, which prevented the participants in the AEG from reducing the femoral trochanter BMD, as happened in the CG.

The effects of different intensities of exercise and active vitamin D on mouse bone mass and bone strength

“…Although it is easier to understand the lack of effect for low-level exercise because a threshold of strain is needed, it is hard to understand why a high level of exercise failed to affect either bone formation or bone resorption [56][57][58]. Previous studies have shown that excessive exercise could lead to an increase in bone resorption.…”

The effects of combined training on bone metabolic markers in postmenopausal women

“…Studies on exercise training suggest that it may play an influential role preventing at least some of the negative consequences of the menopause, such as osteoporosis [5]. A positive effect of exercise on bone mass has been demonstrated in postmenopausal women [6][7][8][9] although the results were not always consistent due to methodological issues, namely: the age of the participants, differences between each mode of exercise (aerobic vs. resistance exercise, isometric or concentric actions, frequency of exercise, testing measures), the duration of the intervention and the markers of bone changes used.…”

“…While exercise seems to be effective in lowering the risk of falls and maintain muscular performance in selected people and it should through alterations in regulation of bone metabolism prevent the deterioration [6]. It is well accepted that high-intensity aerobics and high-speed resistance training exercise seems to be more efficient to increase bone metabolism than low-to moderate-intensity activity [5,6]. Thus, power training in postmenopausal women could be important for the maintenance of bone mineral density as an easily available effective exercise programs.…”

Effect of three months of periodized hydrogymnastics exercise program on urinary concentration of deoxypyridinoline in older women

“…In spite of the hydrogimnastic training program in these research was designed five times a week whit periodization in order to produce grater adaptations (23), increasing the load heart rate reserve of 40-50% (1-6 th week) increasing the load to 50-60% heart rate reserve (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) th week) these result was not consistent with a controlled trial than evaluate with biochemical markers of bone turnover in elderly who practice aquatic exercise than showed serum osteocalcin, intra and intergroup statistical differences of p = 0.042 and p = 0.027 (22), other study than showed benefits in bone formation marker assessed by procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (15.8 %; p = 0.001) after a high-intensity of aquatic exercise program in postmenopausal women (27); these discrepancies with our results may be owing to de time than were performed through 24 weeks of aquatic exercises but with lower frequency (3 times a week) and lower work load intensity by other hand some of these programs where attendance in strength modalities in to the water than may have influence the improvements in bone turnover (9,27).…”