Estrogen therapy and variable-resistance weight training increase bone mineral in surgically menopausal women

This study was undertaken to examine the effect of estrogen replacement therapy alone and estrogen replacement therapy plus variable-resistance weight training on the bone mineral content of surgically menopausal women. A total of 20 surgically menopausal women were randomized and treated with either 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen daily or the same dose of estrogen plus a closely monitored exercise program involving the use of Nautilus muscle strengthening/endurance equipment. After 1 year's observation, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the spine determined by dual-photon absorptiometry increased in the exercising subjects by 8.3 ± 5.3% (p = 0.004), 95% confidence limits (CL) 3.9–12.8%; the group with estrogen replacement therapy alone maintained their BMD: 1.5 ± 12.4% (p = 0.36; 95% CL = −6.9–9.8%). The total body BMD of the exercising group increased by 2.1 ± 1.5% (p = 0.003; 95% CL = 0.8–3.3%); the nonexercising women had a nonsignificant 0.6 ± 2.9% change (p = 0.30; 95% CL = −1.4–2.5%). A significant increase of 4.1 ± 4.3% (p = 0.01; 95% CL = 0.8–7.4%) in the radial midshaft BMD of the exercising group was found; the estrogen alone group recorded a nonsignificant change of −0.3 ± 3.1% (p = 0.33; 95% CL = −1.7–2.4%). The results of this study suggest that variable-resistance training in estrogen-replete women adds bone to both the axial and appendicular skeleton.