In a recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research , researchers assessed the impact of high-impact exercise on femoral neck bone density and knee osteoarthritis (OA) (a degenerative joint disease causing cartilage breakdown and joint pain) imaging biomarkers in healthy postmenopausal (the period in a woman's life after her menstrual cycles have ceased for twelve consecutive months) women. Study: High-Impact Exercise Increased Femoral Neck Bone Density With No Adverse Effects on Imaging Markers of Knee Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women . Image Credit: lzf / Shutterstock Osteoporosis (OP) (a condition characterized by weakened bones, increasing the risk of fractures) and OA affect millions globally, with higher bone mineral density (BMD) linked to decreased OA progression risk but increased knee OA risk.
Postmenopausal women are at higher OP risk due to estrogen deficiency and have a higher OA prevalence than men. High-impact exercise can increase BMD, with mixed results in postmenopausal women. Progressive unilateral exercise has improved femoral neck BMD in premenopausal women and older men.
Further research is needed to confirm the long-term effects and safety of high-impact exercise on bone and joint health in postmenopausal women. The present trial involved 6 months of high-impact unilateral exercise on a randomly assigned exercise leg (EL) compared to the contralateral control leg (CL). Approved by ethics committees, participants provided writte.