Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the association between habitual physical activity and onset of  postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP). Methods The hospital-based case-control study included 67 cases of PMOP (case group) and 67 healthy
women (control group). The women verbally answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for assessment of physical activity levels. This instrument evaluated the frequency and duration of activities performed during transportation
, at work, at home or in leisure time-over the course of recent one year. The risk of disease was represented by using odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.Results The physical activities in total and transportation, leisure-time were different between case group and control group（P< 0.01）. The physical activities in occupational, housework did not show significant difference between case group and control group（P>0.05). The physical activity in transportation significantly decreased the risk of PMOP (OR=0.223, 95% CI:0.058－0.856). The results demonstrated that moderate walking exercise in postmenopausal women appeared to be effective way to decrease the risk of PMOP (OR=0.064, 95%CI:0.007-0.563). Conclusion   The weight-bearing physical activities including weight-bearing physical exercise can be likely to decrease PMOP risk.

Key words: physical activity;postmenopausal osteoporosis;case-control study