Effect of combined exercise training on bone, body balance, and gait ability: a randomized controlled study in community-dwelling elderly women

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a 48-week multicomponent exercise program could improve the risk factors for fall and hip fracture. Fifty elderly women 65-70 years of age participated. These participants were divided into an exercise group (25 subjects) that attended an exercise program and a control group (25 subjects) that did not. The exercise program included stretching for 9 min, strength training for 10 min followed by 23 min of weight-bearing exercise at an intensity above 65%-75% of the maximal heart rate, and 18 min of balance and posture correction training. The program was conducted three times per week for 48 weeks. The 10-m maximal walk time, maximal step length, and eyes-open-one-legged-stand time in the exercise group improved significantly (P < 0.05). Concerning deoxypyridinoline, the exercise group achieved a significant improvement (P < 0.05) after the 48 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the femoral neck and trochanter in the exercise group was significantly increased after the exercise program; also body sway was significantly improved (P < 0.05). In conclusion, a multi-component exercise program with weight-bearing exercise at a moderate intensity and gait training may be effective in offsetting a decline in BMD and improving aggravation of bone resorption in this population. In addition, this program has a positive effect on postural stability and gait ability.