OBJECTIVE: to investigate the effect of interventions with resistance training on muscular strength and bone mineral density on the sites of higher incidence of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women. METHODOLOGY: update study through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis in the databases of the American College of Sports Medicine and the Cochrane Library was conducted from 1985 up to, and including, February 2005. RESULTS: twenty-six studies met inclusion criteria from Germany, Australia, Austria, Canada, China, United States, France and Japan, with a total of 2,300 women with ages ranging from 40 to 92 years. Interventions with resistance training showed statistically significant results on muscular strength and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femur (Ward/ trochanter) and total hip. CONCLUSION: resistance training markedly influences risk for osteoporotic factors regarding falls (muscular strength) and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women.
Resistance training; Osteoporosis; Postmenopausal women; Bone density; Randomized controlled trial; Meta-analysis
