Although the favourable effects of high-intensity resistance and impact training (HiRIT) on bone strength have been demonstrated, it is generally considered unsuitable for older adults. A recent study reports that 8 months of HiRIT was efficacious and induced no adverse effects in older postmenopausal women with, or at risk of, osteoporosis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Rubin, C. T. & Lanyon, L. E. Regulation of bone mass by mechanical strain magnitude. Calcif. Tissue Int. 37, 411–417 (1985).
Turner, C. H., Owan, I. & Takano, Y. Mechanotransduction in bone: role of strain rate. Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 269, E438–E442 (1995).
Benichou, O. & Lord, S. R. Rationale for strengthening muscle to prevent falls and fractures: a review of the evidence. Calcif. Tissue Int. 98, 531–545 (2016).
Marques, E. A., Mota, J. & Carvalho, J. Exercise effects on bone mineral density in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Age 34, 1493–1515 (2011).
Zhao, R., Zhao, M. & Xu, Z. The effects of differing resistance training modes on the preservation of bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a meta-analysis. Osteoporos. Int. 26, 1605–1618 (2015).
Watson, S. L. et al. High-intensity resistance and impact training improves bone mineral density and physical function in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis: the LIFTMOR randomized controlled trial. J. Bone Miner. Res. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.3284 (2017).
Kemmler, W., Bebenek, M., Kohl, M. & Von Stengel, S. Exercise and fractures in postmenopausal women. Final results of the controlled Erlangen Fitness and Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS). Osteoporos. Int. 26, 2491–2499 (2015).
Turner, C. H. & Robling, A. G. Exercise as an anabolic stimulus for bone. Curr. Pharm. Des. 10, 2629–2641 (2004).
Carlson, S. A., Fulton, J. E., Schoenborn, C. A. & Loustalot, F. Trend and prevalence estimates based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Am. J. Prev. Med. 39, 305–313 (2010).
Börjesson, M. et al. Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease (ed. Professional Associations for Physical Activity) (Swedish Institute of Health, 2010).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
PowerPoint slides
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kemmler, W., von Stengel, S. High-intensity exercise to prevent fractures — risk or gain?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 14, 6–8 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2017.148
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2017.148
This article is cited by
-
The Effect of Impact Exercise (Alone or Multicomponent Intervention) on Health-Related Outcomes in Individuals at Risk of Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Sports Medicine (2021)
-
High-intensity exercise did not cause vertebral fractures and improves thoracic kyphosis in postmenopausal women with low to very low bone mass: the LIFTMOR trial
Osteoporosis International (2019)
