Physical Activity: Does It Really Increase Bone Density in Post-Menopausal Women? – Review of Articles Published between 2001-2015

Physical activity is known for its many health benefits, among them the positive effect on bone health during the life cycle. During childhood, physical stress stimulates bone remodeling and increases density. However, due to hormonal changes during adulthood, and mainly during post-menopause the rate of bone remodeling is slowed and is less efficient. As a result, argument has arisen in the literature regarding the benefit or harm of physical activity on bone health among postmenopausal women. In the current review of the literature, this argument is examined and the efficacy of physical activity for improving Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in post-menopausal women is investigated.

The articles included in the review were chosen from four databases (PubMed, SPORT Discus, Academic Search Premier and Science Direct). Only publications with intervention studies which provided BMD measures clearly affected by physical activity in postmenopausal women were included. Eleven articles met the criteria for inclusion.

The results indicated that in general physical activity had a positive effect on BMD. Exercise prevented bone loss and in some cases, it contributed to the increase in BMD.

The main conclusion of the current review is that physical activity may improve BMD in postmenopausal women. However, the exact type of activity, its intensity, its duration and its frequency, are still unclear. Further studies are needed to determine the precise training protocol for postmenopausal women.