Bone Ultrasound and Physical Activity in Postmenopausal Spanish Women

We studied the effects of moderate physical activity on bone mass in healthy postmenopausal women as assessed by quantitative bone ultrasound. We enrolled a total of 326 postmenopausal women (60.95 ± 8.51 years old and 13.02 ± 9.52 years since menopause) and categorized them by weekly physical activity in their leisure time (sedentary, moderate, and active). We administered a questionnaire on general health and diet and measured bone density by ultrasound on phalanges II-V in the nondominant hand. We found no significant difference in the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS; p > .05) between sedentary and active women. We concluded that the changes induced by moderate physical activity on bone mass are minimal in healthy postmenopausal women.