Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2001

Thesis Director

Jill D. Owen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a strength training program has an effect on the bone mineral density of aerobically trained perimenopausal women. The study also hoped to determine if high intensity strength training with low repetitions will result in a greater increase in bone density as compared with low intensity strength training with high repetitions. The duration of the study was six months.

The participants were twenty-five aerobically trained perimenopausal female volunteers. They were randomly selected to be in one of three groups. Group 1 was the aerobic control where the participants continued with their aerobic training program three days per week for 30 minutes and did not add a strength training program. Group 2 was the high resistance with low repetitions strength training group. These participants continued their aerobic training program and added a strength training program performing one set of 6 to 8 repetitions at 80% of their one repetition maximum. Group 3 was the low resistance with high repetitions strength training group. These participants continued their aerobic training program and added a strength training program of two sets of 20 repetitions at 50% of their one repetition maximum.

A one repetition maximum test was used to determine upper and lower body strength at baseline and after six months. Bone mineral density was also evaluated at the hip and spine using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA), p < 0.05, were used to assess the baseline data. No significant differences in baseline strength or bone mineral density were found between the groups. A multivariate ANOVA (MANOVA), p < 0.05, was performed to assess the differences in strength change and bone mineral density within and between groups.

Examination of the results revealed there was no significant difference between the groups in bone mineral density after six months. The results also demonstrated the aerobic control group, as a whole, did not increase their bone mineral density. However, group 2 significantly improved their strength more than the aerobic control group for three variables including the latissimus pull down (p = .011), leg extension (p = .000) and leg adductor (p = .010), and showed more improvement than group 3 on the leg curl variable (p = .013). It was concluded that there were no differences between groups in the amount of bone mineral density change, but there were differences in strength.

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