Circuit training for bone health: efficacy of the bone-based rotation exercises principle: A pilot study

Purpose: Physical exercise has been shown effective for bone health, across lifespan, if proper characteristics have been ensured during exercise prescription and conduction. The aim of our study was to verify if workout organization, in postmenopausal women, may have a central role in determining the entity of the osteogenic effect of a physical exercise program. Methods: Thirty-two postmenopausal women (mean age 59.35 ± 3.65 years) were eligible for the study. Plasma BAP and CTx-I were collected, and DEXA, anthropometry, dietary habits, and fitness tests have been ascertained before and after their participation in 12-week supervised workouts. One sub-group (TWs-s) was trained according to a traditional workout scheme, while the other sub-group (BBs-s) was trained following a bone-based scheme of exercise rotation. Results: BBs-s significantly increased BAP plasma values (p = 0.004) and Six-Minute Walking Test result (p < 0.001), while TWs-s not. Both the sub-groups significantly increased Flamingo Balance Test (p = 0.05), Plank Position Test (p < 0.001), Handgrip Test (p = 0.004), Squat Test (p < 0.001), and Arm Curl Test (p < 0.001). Conclusions: When bone health is considered, the establishment of the right exercise order, in a circuit training workout, is very important, because it could amplify or delay mechanoreceptor desensitizing. The experimented bone-based scheme of exercise rotation seems able to furnish positive effects on bone, muscle, and aerobic fitness.