Development and Evaluation of an Exercise Intervention for Prevention of Vertebral Osteoporosis and Deformity in Postmenopausal Women

Osteoporotic fractures of the vertebrae (bones in the back) cause substantial pain and disability. Exercise could help to prevent these fractures by increasing bone strength and improving posture. Unfortunately, not all exercises strengthen bone. Exercises that do work (e.g. heavy weight lifting) are not popular with women at risk of osteoporosis. The investigators will develop a feasible exercise programme that can be done at a community centre or at home, using resistance bands. The investigators will involve women in designing the programme and incorporate strategies to support behaviour change. The investigators will then examine whether the programme improves bone density, posture or muscle strength in eighty women. Half the women, chosen at random, will take up exercise whilst the remaining half act as a control group. The investigators will take bone scans to determine bone density, and measure spinal curvature and strength, before and after the six- month programme. Findings will be useful in making recommendations as to which types of exercise increase spine bone density and will help to design future research on maximising vertebral strength. If significant benefits are seen, the investigators will develop resources such as booklets and videos so that the intervention can be widely available.