Summary: | Although higher participation of intense and mechanical-loading physical activity (PA)
yields significant osteogenic effects in maximizing bone mass devel?pment throughout
lifespans, but specific types, intensity and frequency ofPA that could help to prevent an
excessive bone loss during adulthood and aging is still limited, in particular among
older populations in Asia. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of
habitual PA and other lifestyle practices on bone health status among postmenopausal
Chinese women aged between 51 and 78 years in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Several
method assessments were used namely, a piloted questionnaires pertaining to general
characteristics, general health status, lifestyle P A, smoking and alcohol consumption
practices, as well as dietary behavioral practices were gathered. A piloted PA
questionnaire for the past one-year was used to assess the habitual PA levels of two
domains of leisure-based and household-based activities. Bone health profiles of these
participants were measured at various skeletal sites of the total body, lumbar spine (L2-
L4) and proximal femur using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry device (DXA), as a
criteria reference method for bone health assessment. The mean age of the participants
was 57.3 years, with mean age since menopause of 7.6 years. Multivariate analysis of
co-variance (ANCOV A) was carried-out to examirie these lifestyle practices on bone
health profiles, after taking into account for other potential confounding factors such as
age, age of menopause, types of menopause, and family history of osteoporosis, BMI,
waist circumferences, and other dietary lifestyle practices. The findings found that postmenopausal Chinese women with higher daily PA levels both in leisure-time and household-time physical activity were significantly associated with higher BMD levels
ofthe total body, proximal femur and lumbar spine (L2-L4) than that of those women of
lower daily PA practices. In contrary, there was not significant association found
between smoking status and alcohol consumption level on any bone health indices
measured. The present findings showing that higher participation in daily PA with
sufficient mechanical loading exerts significant beneficial impacts on bone health
among postmenopausal Chinese women. Therefore, continuous encouragement of
active lifestyle practices such as daily PA levels for at least 2 hours of moderate to highintense
physical activity in a day should be highly encouraged among older populations
in order to prevent an excessive bone loss during the late adulthood.
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