INTRODUCTION:
physical activity acts improving bone mineral density BMD because it generates deformities in the tissue and stimulates remodeling.
OBJECTIVE:
to determine the association between muscle strength and level of physical activity with bone mineral density BMD using biceps strength tests, sitting and standing, hands grip strength, history of physical activity and physical activity level, evaluated by pedometer with BMD in postmenopausal women.
METHODS:
cross-sectional, descriptive study that measured the bone mineral density by dual energy absorption of X rays DXA of the lumbar spine L1-L4, femur and forearm in 62 health postmenopausal women, with average age of 56.82 ± 4.02 years. A questionnaire was applied to assess previous physical activity and a daily step count pedometer was performed. Muscle strength was measured by grip strength tests, 30 seconds of bilateral biceps and sitting and standing test in 30 seconds. A 3-day food registering was performed to measure the daily intake of calcium and vitamin D.
RESULTS:
participants had high levels of physical activity, but low daily intake of calcium and vitamin D. There was no statistically significant difference in muscle strength in both groups, with decreased BMD and normal BMD. The group with decreased BMD showed a higher number of daily steps and less weight when compared with the group with normal BMD. Several positive correlations of low magnitude although significant were observed between densitometry and muscle strength p<0.50.
CONCLUSION:
the authors related risk five and half times higher in women not engaged in physical activity from adolescence to adulthood, and decreased BMD compared with women with normal BMD.
exercise; muscles; bone density; bone diseases; metabolic