Heavy resistance training is safe and improves bone, function, and stature in postmenopausal women with low to very low bone mass: novel early findings from the LIFTMOR trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 26243363 · doi:10.1007/s00198-015-3263-2
What was done
Postmenopausal women with low to very low bone mass (mean age 66.1 ± 4.8 years, mean lumbar spine T-score -2.15 ± 0.72) were randomized to an 8-month intervention of either twice-weekly, 30-minute supervised high-intensity progressive resistance training (HiPRT) with impact loading or a low-intensity home-based exercise control program. Baseline and follow-up measurements assessed anthropometry, body composition (bone, muscle, fat mass), and functional performance.
What was found
In this preliminary analysis of 28 completers, the HiPRT group (n = 12) showed significant improvements compared to the control group (n = 16) in stature (0.4 ± 0.2 cm vs -0.3 ± 0.1 cm, p = 0.003), femoral neck bone mineral density (0.3 ± 0.5% vs -2.5 ± 0.8%, p = 0.016), lumbar spine bone mineral density (1.6 ± 0.9% vs -1.7 ± 0.6%, p = 0.005), and functional performance (p < 0.05). Compliance exceeded 87%, and no injuries occurred.
Why it matters
This trial provides early randomized evidence that brief, supervised heavy resistance and impact loading is well-tolerated and can improve bone density in osteopenic and osteoporotic women, directly challenging conventional recommendations to avoid high-intensity loading.
Limits
The sample size is very small (28 completers), representing preliminary interim findings of an ongoing trial. The abstract lacks specific functional outcome metrics, does not report clinical fracture outcomes, and evaluates an intervention delivered under direct supervision, which may limit generalizability to unsupervised settings.
Cited by
- partial A clinical study showed that heavy resistance weight training reversed osteopenia and osteoporosis in women and salvaged muscle.