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Both resistance and agility training reduce back pain and improve health-related quality of life in older women with low bone mass

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of three different types of group-based exercise programs (resistance training, agility training and general stretching) on back pain and health-related quality of life in older (aged 75–85 years) community-dwelling women with low bone mass (i.e., osteopenia or osteoporosis). The design was a 25-week randomized controlled trial. Participating were 98 community-dwelling women with low bone mass between the ages of 75 to 85 years old. We assessed back pain and its related disability and health-related quality of life. All three types of group-based exercise programs significantly reduced back pain and its related disabilities, but only resistance and agility training significantly improved health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older women with low bone mass. Baseline physical activity level and class attendance were significant predictors of change in health-related quality of life. Change in back pain and its related disabilities after 25 weeks of exercise intervention was significantly correlated with change in health-related quality of life and changes in the domains of pain and physical function. Resistance and agility training significantly enhanced health-related quality of life and may have done so by increasing social interactions and support, enhancing self-efficacy of physical abilities and modifying the experience of back pain. These data provide valuable insight into the specifics of exercise prescription for older women with low bone mass. Future studies may wish to use individualized quality of life measures to further delineate the effects of different types of exercise on quality of life in older adults with low bone mass.

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Acknowledgements

The Vancouver Foundation (BCMSF) and the BC Women’s Hospital Osteoporosis Program supported this project. The South Slope YMCA was a partner of this research project. Drs. Khan and Eng are Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis) New Investigators. Drs. McKay and Eng are Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Career Scholars. Dr. Liu-Ambrose is a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Post Doctoral Fellow and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research ICE Postdoctoral Fellow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UBC Bone Health Research Group: BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre Osteoporosis Program, Centre for Hip Health, and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Suite 211–2150 Western Parkway, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1V6, Canada

    Teresa Y. L. Liu-Ambrose, Karim M. Khan & Heather A. McKay

  2. School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Teresa Y. L. Liu-Ambrose & Karim M. Khan

  3. School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Janice J. Eng

  4. Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Janice J. Eng

  5. Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Karim M. Khan & Heather A. McKay

  6. Department of Orthopedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Heather A. McKay

  7. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, UNSW, Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Stephen R. Lord

  8. Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Teresa Y. L. Liu-Ambrose

  9. Department of Radiology, BC Children’s and Women’s Health Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Brian Lentle

Authors
  1. Teresa Y. L. Liu-Ambrose
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  2. Karim M. Khan
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  3. Janice J. Eng
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  4. Stephen R. Lord
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  5. Brian Lentle
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  6. Heather A. McKay
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Correspondence to Karim M. Khan.

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Liu-Ambrose, T.Y.L., Khan, K.M., Eng, J.J. et al. Both resistance and agility training reduce back pain and improve health-related quality of life in older women with low bone mass. Osteoporos Int 16, 1321–1329 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1842-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1842-3

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