Different land-based exercise training programs to improve bone health in postmenopausal women

Summary Bone mineral density reduction is a health problem in postmenopausal women because it leads to osteoporosis and high risk of falling, and bone fracture. Bone fractures induce functional dis-ability, poor quality of life, and reduced lifespan. Thus, therapies that reduce bone loss are highly necessary. In this study, we summarized findings from the literature regarding several useful land-based (as opposed to aquatic) exercise training programs for bone density maintenance in post-menopausal women. Trials published up to January 2013 in Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Medline databases (n=1966) were evaluated. The search included studies assessing ET effects on BMD in postmenopausal women. In the current literature, 4 types of exercise training programs (resistance, endurance, whole-body vibration, and multi-component training) have shown benefit in multiple bone sites. However, sev -eral studies provide a more positive clinical perspective for multi-component training. We show evidence that several land training programs may benefit bone health, in which multi-component training is most recommended. This is based on findings that multi-component train -ing induces lower fall frequency and risk for osteoporosis.