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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Dec 27;20(1):5.
doi: 10.1007/s11657-024-01487-z.

Effects of 12-week power training on bone in mobility-limited older adults: randomised controlled trial

Valentina Muollo  1 , Lars G Hvid  2   3 , Vikram V Shanbhogue  4 , Viktoria Steinhauser  5 , Daniela Caporossi  6 , Ivan Dimauro  6 , Marianne Skovsager Andersen  7 , Cristina Fantini  6 , Elisa Grazioli  6 , Elsa S Strotmeyer  8 , Paolo Caserotti  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of 12-week power training on bone in mobility-limited older adults: randomised controlled trial

Valentina Muollo et al. Arch Osteoporos. .

Abstract

This study examines how power training affects estimated bone strength, revealing that females benefit more than males, especially in the upper limbs (radius). These findings highlight the importance of designing sex-specific exercise programs to enhance bone health. Further research is needed to optimize training duration and address site-specific differences.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of 12-week of power training (PWT), an explosive form of strength training, on bone microarchitecture, estimated bone strength, and markers in mobility-limited (gait speed < 0.9 m/s) older adults.

Methods: Fifty-seven older adults (83 ± 5 years) were randomly assigned to either a training group (TRAIN, n = 28, 15 females, 13 males) performing high-intensity PWT or a control group (CTRL, n = 29, 22 females, 7 males) maintaining their usual lifestyle. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) assessed bone geometry, densities, microarchitecture (e.g. trabecular number (Tb.N) and thickness (Tb.Th)), and estimated bone strength (stiffness and failure load) at the tibia and radius. Blood markers for bone metabolism (PINP and CTX-1) and muscle strength (handgrip and leg press) were also measured.

Results: Baseline sex differences showed females having lower stiffness (- 37.5%) and failure load (- 38%) at the radius compared with males. After PWT, females in the TRAIN group exhibited declines in Tb.N (- 4.4%) and improvements in Tb.Th (+ 6.0%), stiffness (+ 2.7%), and failure load (+ 2.4%) at the radius (p < 0.05). A time x group interaction indicated increases in leg press strength for the whole TRAIN group (+ 23%), and within females (+ 29%) and males (+ 19%) (p < 0.001). Baseline handgrip strength correlated with stiffness (r = 0.577) and failure load (r = 0.612) at the radius (p < 0.001). Females in the TRAIN group showed a reduction in PINP (- 25%), while males showed an increase in CTX-1 (+ 18%).

Conclusion: A 12-week PWT may enhance estimated bone strength in mobility-limited older adults, especially at sites less accustomed to daily loading (i.e. radius).

Clinical trial registration: NCT02051725.

Keywords: Aging; Biochemical markers of bone turnover; Bone high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography; Exercise; Fracture prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Regional Scientific Ethical Committees for Southern Denmark (S-20120149). All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Conflict of interest: None.

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