The effect of resistance training in preserving bone mineral density in post-menopausal women

Abstract

Background: During menopause, women experience a drop in oestrogen. This causes an impairment in the normal bone turnover cycle. This impairment causes the bone mineral density to decrease in the bones of the body (Ji & Yu, 2015). This leads to about 20% of postmenopausal women suffering from osteoporosis which makes them more susceptible to fractures. Research question: Does resistance training help preserve bone mineral density in postmenopausal women? PICO elements: Population: Post-Menopausal Women. Intervention: Resistance training with exercise intensity between 50-80%, one repetition maximum. Comparison: Postmenopausal women who do not perform regular exercise. Outcome: Preservation of bone mineral density. Method: The key terms within the PICO question were used so that alternative terms were brought forward. These used in alongside, Boolean Operators. Limiters were used to further refine the search of articles. EBSCO and HyDi were used in order to search these terms. Once these databases were PRISMA 2020 checklist was used to eliminate irrelevant articles. Later on, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool (2021) and JBI Critical Appraisal Tools (2017) were used to critically appraise these articles. Results: The literature review brought forward three Random controlled Trails (RCT) and two Non-Random controlled Trails (NRCT). Within these articles the majority demonstrated that bone mineral density is preserved with the help of resistance training. Conclusion: Although, the studies do suggest that resistance training does help preserve bone mineral density in post-menopausal women the evidence is still indefinite for one to come up with solid conclusions. Hence further research is needed in order for a definite conclusion to be drawn up.