Redução da dor em mulheres com osteoporose submetidas a um programa de atividade física

Este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a dor e o consumo de analgésicos em mulheres com osteoporose, após a realização de um programa de atividade física. Participaram do estudo 15 mulheres com média de idade 59±7,6 anos, com diagnóstico densitométrico em L2-L4 de osteoporose e que haviam feito uso de analgésicos para dorsalgia pelo menos três vezes por semana no mês precedente à avaliação inicial. A dor foi avaliada por questões extraídas do Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire, aplicadas antes e após um programa de atividade física; o escore variou de 0 (melhor, sem dor) a 10 (pior, dor diária). O programa, que consistiu em caminhadas, exercícios livres de membros superiores e inferiores e relaxamento, foi realizado duas vezes por semana durante 28 semanas consecutivas. Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente. Comparando-se as pontuações obtidas, a dor apresentou uma diminuição significativa entre a avaliação inicial (7,33±3,05) e final (4,17±2,61, p=0,0007). Observou-se também uma redução no consumo de analgésicos. Esses resultados sugerem que o programa de atividade física foi efetivo para a diminuição da dor, contribuindo para a melhora da qualidade de vida das mulheres com osteoporose.This paper aimed at evaluating the effect of a physical activity program onto the level of pain as perceived by women with osteoporosis. Fifteen women (mean age 59±7.6 years old) with bone-densitometry diagnosis of lumbar osteoporosis took part in the study; they all took analgesics at least thrice a week in the month prior to the study. Pain was assessed by questions extracted from the Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire both before and after the program; scores ranged from 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain everyday). The program consisted of walking, lower and upper limb free exercises, massage, and relaxation, twice a week, during 28 weeks. Data were statistically analysed. A significant decrease in pain was found after the program (from 7.33±3.05 to 4.17±2.61, p=0,0007), and a lesser use of analgesics was reported. These results suggest that the program of physical activity brought pain relief, thus contributing to improve quality of life of women with osteoporosis

Influence of a physical training program on muscle strength, balance and gait velocity among women with osteoporosis

OBJECTIVES: The trend towards increased life expectancy will certainly lead to increases in morbidity and mortality relating to osteoporosis. Because of the lack of well defined protocols on the intensity and frequency of easily performed physical exercises for Brazilian women, this study proposed to analyze the effects of a training program for ankle muscle strength, balance performance and gait velocity among women with a densitometric diagnosis of osteoporosis. METHODS: Twelve female volunteers (age 68.7 &plusmn; 2.7 years) underwent physical evaluation and subsequent reevaluation after twelve weeks. The physical activity program was guided by a physical therapist, who conducted 60-minute sessions, three times a week for twelve weeks. Each training session included some stretching exercises, strengthening exercises for the ankle dorsiflexor and plantar-flexor muscles, with 50% of 10-repetition maximum (10-RM), and balance training. RESULTS: The variables analyzed regarding balance index, gait velocity and muscle strength presented significant improvement (p < 0.05), as shown by the Wilcoxon non-parametric test. CONCLUSION: After the 12-week exercise program, the participants presented benefits in terms of their fitness. The results demonstrate that the training had a role in improving the condition of this group of patients, thus suggesting that this program was effective, easy to implement and safe for Brazilian women with osteoporosis. Therefore, it can be seen that physical activity programs are efficient in improving balance performance, gait velocity and ankle muscle strength among elderly women with osteoporosis