Effect of walking with blood flow restriction in elderly women with osteoporosis/osteopenia

Efeito da caminhada com restrição do fluxo sanguíneo em idosas com osteoporose/osteopenia

Abstract

Introduction

The preservation of bone mass in elderly women is associated with better levels of practice of systematic physical exercises. Aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction seems to be a new alternative that determines this process, but knowledge gaps are still observed when referring to exercise associated with blood flow restriction (BFR) and adaptations on bone variables.

Objective

To analyze the chronic effects of aerobic training with and without BFR on bone mineral density and bone biomarker osteocalcin concentrations in older women.

Methods

Thirty women were randomized into the following groups: walking on a treadmill at low intensity with BFR; moderate treadmill walking with no BFR; only BFR (no exercise) for 20 minutes, twice a week, for 24 weeks. Bone mineral density was measured before and 24 weeks after intervention. Blood serum osteocalcin concentrations were measured before, 12 and 24 weeks after intervention.

Results

There were no differences between groups in bone mineral density (femoral neck, p = 0.31; total femur, p = 0.17; lumbar spin, p = 0.06) and osteocalcine (W(2) = 0.27; p = 0.87) ouctomes after 24 weeks of intervention.

Conclusion

There was no difference between walking training, blood flow restriction only, or walking+blood flow restriction on bone mineral density and osteocalcin concentrations after 24-weeks of intervention in older women with osteopenia/osteoporosis.

Aging; Bone mineral density; Exercise; Osteocalcin; Therapeutic occlusion