Muscle strength, power and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with bone mineral density in men aged 31-60 years

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic fractures represent a growing economical burden to society, not only because of fractures in women, but also because of an increasing number of fractures in men.

AIMS: In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the association of muscular and cardio-respiratory fitness with BMD at the spine and hip in men.

RESULTS: The association between independent variables maximal aerobic capacity (VO(2max)), leg power and hand grip strength, and dependent variables BMD at the spine and total hip was explored in a series of linear regression models successively adjusted for age, weight and height, smoking, alcohol intake and leisure time physical activity level. In the fully adjusted model we found a significant association of VO(2max) with BMD at the lumbar spine, p<0.0089. Furthermore, we observed significant associations of VO(2max) (p<0.0022) and leg power (p<0.011) with BMD at total hip.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with BMD in men. Furthermore, hand grip strength and leg power were associated with increasing BMD at the lumbar spine and total hip in men, respectively. Further prospective studies are needed to further investigate the association between physical activity and BMD in men.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Public Health
Volume42
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)773-779
Number of pages7
ISSN1403-4948
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2014

    Research areas

  • Adult, Bone Density, Cross-Sectional Studies, Hand Strength, Hip, Humans, Leg, Lumbar Vertebrae, Male, Middle Aged, Physical Fitness, Spine

ID: 135496738