Over 65 -- More Exercise, Less Broken
Hips
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
ATLANTA-Among older people, osteoporosis is a common
disorder. It is characterized by fragile bones due to
reduced bone mass (density). The fragile bones tend to
fracture.
Research has found that bone mass can be
increased in older women by physical activity. To determine
whether physical activity can actually reduce the risk for
broken hips, a large multicenter study was done. Nearly
10,000 women over 65 years of age were evaluated. The
results of this important prospective (forward looking)
study appeared in the July 15,1998 issue of the Annals of
Internal Medicine.
Dr. Edward W. Gregg of the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention and his colleagues at medical centers
throughout the United States studied the women for an
average of 7.6 years and found that higher levels of
leisure time, sport activity, and heavy household chores
and fewer hours of sitting daily were associated with a
significantly reduced risk of broken (fractured) hip bones.
Further, Dr. Gregg's group found that women who were
very active and engaged in activities such as tennis or
aerobic dance had the greatest (36%) reduction in hip
fractures. Moreover, women who did lower-intensity
activities such as walking, gardening, or social dancing
for at least an hour a week also had significant reduction
of risk for hip fractures.
Physical exercise and activity can be a very helpful
health measure. Regular exercise is associated with reduced
risks for heart attack, blood vessel disease, stroke,
diabetes, depression, obesity, and cognitive (thought)
decline. and it leads to an overall sense of well-being.
Exercise can clearly reduce the chances for broken bones
and so prevent serious health consequences. The fact that
the population studied by Gregg and colleagues was over 65
is particularly instructive. It is clearly never too late
to reap the health benefits of exercise.
Sources: Gregg EW, Cauley JA, Seeley DG, Ensrud KE,
Bauer DC. Physical activity and osteoporotic fracture risk in older women. The
Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Ann Intern Med
1998;129:81-88.
Rosenberg IH. Let's get physical. Ann Intern Med 1998; 129:133-134.
Last Editorial Review: 4/30/2008
Interactive Slideshows