For women with osteopenia (bone loss with age), regular exercise improves balance and walking speed, helps protect against fractures and even prolongs life, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Finnish researchers from the Deaconess Institute in Oulu showed that a program combining just 20 minutes of home exercise per day and supervised training every week for six months of the year reduced the risk of falls and fractures by 32 percent. The researchers’ program ran for five years, with positive effects for two years after its completion.
The authors of the study note that the falls that occurred in the group of women exercising were not only less frequent, but also less severe than in the control group, where hip fractures were more common. Moreover, women who during their lifetime were even moderately physically active had 78 percent lower risk of fractures after the end of the program.
Even a small weakness and imbalance can significantly hinder the daily functioning of the elderly. According to the researchers, regular exercise should be recommended to women diagnosed with osteopenia, as this will allow them to rely on their own strength for longer and remain independent. (PAP)