Proposal of an Adapted Physical Activity Exercise Protocol for Women with Osteoporosis-Related Vertebral Fractures: A Pilot Study to Evaluate Feasibility, Safety, and Effectiveness

Sofia Marini, Erica Leoni, Alessandra Raggi, Tiziana Sanna, Nazzarena Malavolta, Buffa Angela, Pasqualino Maietta Latessa and Laura Dallolio
Additional contact information
Sofia Marini: Department of Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Campus of Rimini, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Erica Leoni: Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Alessandra Raggi: School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Tiziana Sanna: School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Nazzarena Malavolta: Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna, Unit of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, via Pietro Albertoni, 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Buffa Angela: Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna, Unit of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, via Pietro Albertoni, 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Pasqualino Maietta Latessa: Department of Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Campus of Rimini, Corso d’Augusto 237, 47921 Rimini, Italy
Laura Dallolio: Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 14, 1-15

Abstract: A quasi-experimental pilot study was performed to determine the feasibility and safety of an Adapted Physical Activity (APA) protocol and its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), fear of falling, pain, and physical performance in women with osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures. Forty-four post-menopausal women (mean age: 67.6 ± 4.6) with osteoporotic vertebral fractures were assigned to an exercise group (APA group = 26) who attended a six-month exercise protocol that included postural and muscular reinforcement exercises, and a control group (CG = 18) who was asked to maintain their current lifestyle. At baseline and six months after baseline, HRQOL was measured as primary outcome by the Assessment of Health Related Quality of Life in Osteoporosis (ECOS-16) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were fear of falling (Fall Efficacy Scale International, FES-I), lumbar back pain (Visual Analogue Scale-VAS), functional exercise capacity (Six Minutes Walking Test-6MWT, Borg scale), balance and gait (Tinetti Scale), and flexibility of the column (Chair Sit-and-Reach). The effects of the intervention were analyzed by comparison within groups and between groups. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated using Cohen’s d. All the outcomes significantly improved in the APA group, while they remained unchanged in the CG. After adjustment for unbalanced variables, the comparison between groups showed significant effects of the intervention for ECOS-16-score, functional exercise capacity, balance, and gait. The exercise program had big effect sizes on HRQOL (ES = 1.204), fear of falling (ES = 1.007), balance (ES = 0.871), and functional exercise capacity (ES = 1.390). Good adherence (75.8%) and no injuries were observed. Due to its feasibility, safety, and effectiveness, the proposed exercise protocol can be adopted in APA programs addressed to patients with osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures.

Keywords: osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures; adapted physical activity; health-related quality of life; fear of falling; physical performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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