Changes in bone mineral density in response to 24 weeks of resistance training in college-age men and women.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Controlled trial without reported randomization comparing training and control groups over 24 weeks.
PubMed 20647940 · doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181d09e9d
What was done
Recreationally active young adults aged 18–23 were assigned to a 24-week resistance training program (12 men, 12 women) or a non-training control group (5 men, 5 women; total n = 34). The training group performed an undulating periodized program 3 days per week at 67% to 95% of 1 repetition maximum, focusing on multi-joint axial loading exercises (bench press, squats, deadlifts) and core musculature. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm²) at baseline and 24 weeks, analyzed by ANCOVA controlling for body mass index.
What was found
Men in the training group experienced significantly greater BMD increases at the lateral spine and femoral neck compared to women in the training group. Male exercisers increased BMD by 2.7% to 7.7% depending on the site, while female exercisers ranged from -0.8% to 1.5%. Male and female controls showed approximately 1% change across all bone sites.
Why it matters
Heavy axial resistance training is commonly recommended to build peak bone mass in young adults, but these results indicate that young men and women may experience markedly different skeletal adaptations to the same loading protocol.
Limits
The total sample size was very small (34 participants across four subgroups), and the abstract does not report randomized group allocation. Absolute BMD values and detailed dietary or hormonal metrics were not provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Multi-joint compound resistance exercises stimulate bone remodeling and improve bone mineral density and bone mass more than single-joint exercises.