Efficacy of resistance exercise on lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density in premenopausal women: a meta-analysis of individual patient data.

Osteoporosis and osteopenia are major public health problems. The purpose of this study was to conduct an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of resistance exercise on lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal women. Studies were retrieved via (1). computerized literature searches, (2). review of reference lists from previous studies, (3). hand searching selected journals, and (4). expert review of the reference list. Two x two analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) tests with repeated measures on one factor (time) and study as a covariate were used to analyze changes in BMD. One hundred forty-three subjects (74 exercise, 69 control) were included in the analysis. Changes in lumbar spine BMD averaged 0.006 +/- 0.035 g/cm(2) (0.64 +/- 2.99%) in the exercise group and 0.008 +/- 0.091 g/cm(2) (0.74 +/- 7.58%) in the control group, and changes in femoral neck BMD averaged 0.005 +/- 0.031 g/cm(2) (0.46 +/- 3.10%) in the exercise group and 0.003 +/- 0.031 g/cm(2) (0.31 +/- 2.97%) in the control group. No statistically significant differences in lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD were found within or between the exercise and control groups (p > 0.05). Based on existing evidence, our results do not support the efficacy of resistance exercise for increasing or maintaining lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD in premenopausal women. Show more