How hopping may help with osteoporosis risk in older people

ConclusionThis was a randomised controlled trial assessing the effect on hip bone density of hopping as a form of weight-bearing exercise in older men. The study found the hopping exercise to be of significant benefit to certain parts of the hip. But this study was performed in healthy men with no health concerns. The study had a number of strengths and limitations. Strengths are that it was randomised in design, and the fact there was concealed allocation to the intervention group and blinded assessors, reducing the risk of bias. The researchers also performed calculations to estimate the number of participants needed for their study. Limitations are that the study may have benefited from having a control group who did not take part in the hopping exercise, rather than just a randomly assigned leg. In addition, the sample size was quite small, the study did not assess physical activity or dietary habits after the intervention, and it was conducted in a group of healthy older men. This means the findings may not be generalisable to other groups, especially those with osteoporosis, where boosting bone density would be of great benefit. While this study has presented some significant findings, it is not possible to say whether this intervention would be of use to other older people who have health issues or are perhaps unsteady on their feet. The high drop-out rate of 32% suggests it may not be a suitable exercise for many men. If you do have osteoporosis, hopping may not be t...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Older people Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news