Evaluation of hormonal response and ultrasonic changes in the heel bone by aquatic exercise in sedentary postmenopausal women

Objective: This study is based on whether moderate increased physical activity as aquatic exercise has anabolic effects on bone and evaluates this in,terms of quantitative ultrasound and hormonal variables. Design: In this study, 41 postmenopausal sedentary women were admitted to Ataturk Balneotherapy and Rehabilitation Center, according to T scores of broadband ultrasound attenuation. Subjects were followed for 6 mos in aquatic exercise and control groups. The subjects were told to perform the aerobic exercises according to the Borg Scale. Ultrasonic and hormonal evaluation was done before and after the 6-mo training study. Results: In the exercise group, there were 36%, 75%, and 54% increases in the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, and calcitonin, respectively. In addition, a 31% decrease was found in the serum levels of parathormone compared with the initial values. In the control group, serum levels of growth hormone decreased by 61%, but there were no statistically significant changes in the serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1, calcitonin, or parathormone. T scores of broadband ultrasound attenuation and speed of sound increased by 19% and 63% in the exercise group, respectively, whereas there were decreases in the control group for the same variables. There were statistically significant differences between the control and the aquatic exercise groups for the 6-mo percentage of changes in broadband ultrasound attenuation and speed-of-sound T scores, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, parathormone, and calcitonin. Conclusions: Aquatic exercise was determined to be effective to make an anabolic effect on the bone of the postmenopausal, sedentary subjects.