Specific loading protocols to promote bone mineral density in young women

• Main Author: LaRiviere, Jane A. (Jane Ann)
• Other Authors: Snow, Christine M.
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Osteoporosis > Exercise therapy; Osteoporosis in women; Bone densitometry
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/32670

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD), bone fragility, and an increased risk of osteoporotic fracture. The disease is systemic in nature but potential solutions include exercises prescriptions that target the clinically relevant sites of osteoporosis (hip and spine) to improve bone mass. The aim of this dissertation was to determine if atypical loading and load magnitude increased bone mass at the hip and spine, respectively, in young athletic women. The first study sought to determine if six months of uncustomary loading in the form of a "hip drop", increased BMD at the hip in young women (n=39, aged 20.2 �� 1.3 years). The hip drop applied a direct side impact to the right greater trochanter, the left hip was the control. The second study compared the spine BMD response after six months of rowing training in experienced (n=16, aged 21.2 �� 1.2 years) and novice rowers (n=19, aged 19.5 �� 0.8 years) with a control group (n=14, aged 19.2 �� 1.6 years). Bone mineral density at the hip and spine were measured in the first and second studies, respectively. Results from the first study showed a significant difference in BMD between hips at the femoral neck but there were no side-to-side differences at the greater trochanter or the total hip. The second study revealed that six months of rowing training increased spine BMD in the experienced rowers (2.1%) but not in the novices (-0.05%). === Graduation date: 2002