The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 7-month exercise program on the multiple risk factors in relation to fractures in elderly women. Twenty postmenopausal and two premenopausal women, 50 to 76 years of age, participated. The exercise program consisted of general aerobics as well as weight training with an intensity of 15 repetitions maximum (15RM) 2 days per week. Subjects were tested before and after the 7-month training program. Variables tested were speed of sound (SOS in m/second), bone and muscle cross-sectional area of leg, serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and carboxyterminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and a physical fitness test. There was no change in tibial SOS. OC and ICTP levels increased significantly (p<0.01). In the physical fitness test, the number of sit-ups performed in a 30-second period and the endurance time of one-leg open-eye stand were positively affected by the exercise program (p< 0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). These results suggest that the weight and aerobic training positively influenced the maintaining the bone SOS due to high bone turnover, as well as improving physical fitness in elderly women.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.21/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE