Relationship between physical fitness variables and bone mineral density in Korean elderly women

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical fitness variables and bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean elderly women. This study recruited 101 Korean elderly women aged 60-79 years who visited a public health center in Seoul, Korea. In July 2010, their physical fitness parameters were measured at this center: VO(2)max (mL.kg(-1).min(-1)), sit-ups (reps/min), grip strength (kg), sit-and-reach (cm), vertical jump (cm), whole body reaction time (msec), single leg stance with eyes open (sec), and vital capacity (L); BMD (g/cm(3)) was analyzed using central dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine. Subsequently, the relationship between physical fitness and BMD were assessed using partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI). BMD showed a significant positive correlation with the number of sit-ups (r=0.336, p=0.001), grip strength (r=0.703, p<0.001), and vital capacity (r=0.550, p<0.001). However, BMD was not significantly correlated with VO(2)max, vertical jump, whole body reaction time, time of single leg stance with eyes open, and the results of the sit-and-reach test (p>0.05). We concluded that BMD showed a significant positive correlation with muscular endurance, muscular strength, and vital capacity in Korean elderly women. However, BMD was not correlated with cardiorespiratory endurance, power, agility, balance, and flexibility.