Studies in young women show that rowing exercise is osteogenic at the spine.
However, little is known regarding rowing exercise and spine bone mineral density
in older women. The aim of this study was to examine differences in spine bone
mineral density (BMD) and back strength between premenopausal and
postmenopausal competitive female masters rowers (n=28, 45.5 ± 4.7 yrs, n=28,
56.1 ± 5.7 years, respectively) and age-matched non-rowers (n=30, 43.3 ± 4.2 yrs;
n=26, 56.8 ± 4.8 years). Competitive rowers were recruited from nine rowing
clubs in the local area and compared to controls recruited from the same region
who were normally active but not participating in rowing activity. Participating
rowers had been engaged in competitive rowing for a minimum of one year. The
average years spent rowing for the premenopausal and postmenopausal groups was
7.5 ± 6.6 yrs and 5.9 ± 6.9 yrs, respectively. BMD (g/cm²) of the third lumbar
vertebrae (L3) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in both
the anterior-posterior and lateral views. Back strength was assessed using a
standing cable tensiometer. Subjects also completed questionnaires to assess diet,
physical activity, medical history and rowing history. Differences in BMD and
back strength between groups were determined by analysis of covariance,
controlling for lean mass. Compared to controls, postmenopausal rowers had
3.2% higher BMD at the anterior-posterior spine (p=.02) and 4.4% higher lateral
spine BMD (p=.04). Furthermore, isometric back strength was 22.6% greater in
these rowers than controls (p=.01). In contrast, controls had higher lateral BMD
than rowers, with no differences in AP spine BMD or back strength between the
premenopausal rowers and controls. Back strength was a significant predictor of
AP spine BMD in premenopasual rowers and controls (R²=0.137, p=0.004) and
of lateral spine BMD in postmenopausal rowers only (R²=0.153, p=0.04). There
were no differences in calcium intake, age, menopausal status, weight, or lean
mass between rowers and controls in either the premenopausal or postmenopausal
samples. Since both increased BMD and back strength are associated with
reductions in vertebral fracture risk, our results suggest that rowing exercise may
be an important strategy to promote bone health and reduce vertebral fracture risk
in postmenopausal women. However, the forces applied in rowing may not be
great enough to alter bone mass before the onset of menopause. Therefore more
research is needed examining rowing exercise in these older populations. / Graduation date: 2005
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/29622 |
| Date | 15 April 2005 |
| Creators | McNamara, Adrienne J. |
| Contributors | Gunter, Katherine B. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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