Does frequency of resistance training affect tibial cortical bone density in older women? A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Summary: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of resistance training frequency (0, 1, and 2 times/week) on cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) at the tibia in older women. There was no mean difference in change in tibial cortical vBMD in older women who engaged in resistance training (RT) one or two times/week compared with the control group over 12 months after adjusting for baseline values.

Introduction: National guidelines recommend RT two to three times/week to optimize bone health. Our objective was to determine the effect of a 12-month intervention of three different RT frequencies on tibial volumetric cortical density (CovBMD) in healthy older women.

Methods: We randomized participants to the following groups: (1) 2×/week balance and tone group (i.e., no resistance beyond body weight, BT), (2) 1×/week RT (RT1), and (3) 2×/week RT (RT2). Treatment allocation was concealed, and measurement team and the bone data analyst were blinded to group allocation. We used peripheral quantitative computed tomography to acquire one 2.3-mm scan at the 50 % tibia, and the primary outcome was CovBMD. Data were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months, and we used linear mixed modeling to assess the effect at 12 months.

Results: We assessed 147 participants; 100 women provided data at all three points. Baseline unadjusted mean (SD) tibial CovBMD (in milligrams per cubic centimeter) at the 50 % site was 1,077.4 (43.0) (BT), 1,087.8 (42.0) (RT1), and 1,058.7 (60.4) (RT2). At 12 months, there were no statistically significant differences (-0.45 to -0.17 %) between BT and RT groups for mean difference in change in tibial CovBMD for exercise interventions (BT, RT1, RT2) after adjusting for baseline tibial CovBMD.

Conclusion: We note no mean difference in change in tibial CovBMD in older women who engaged in RT one or two times/week compared with the control group over 12 months. It is unknown if RT of 3× or 4×/week would be enough to promote a statistically significant difference in change of bone density.

Fig. 1

Study flow chart that includes data from the larger trial and the subgroup analysis of bone health outcomes. BT, balance and tone; RT1, resistance training once per week; RT2, resistance training twice per week

Fig. 2

Absolute change from baseline by group (BT, balance and tone; RT1, resistance training once per week; RT2, resistance training twice per week) at the midtibia (50 %) across the three measures of interest. The absolute change from baseline for a cortical volumetric bone mineral density (CovBMD, in milligrams per cubic centimeter), b total area (ToA, in square millimeter), and c bone strength (I _max, in millimeter to the fourth power)