Abstract:
The aim of this study is to determine the effects of aerobic exercises on bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and pyridinoline among sedentary women at post-menopause. Menopause has been linked to increase bone turnover, which could lead to osteoporosis and consequently, bone fracture. However, exercises are more desirable in management and prevention of osteoporosis. This study was quasi-experimental involving 20 participants’ sedentary women at postmenopause selected using purposive sampling technique and randomly assigned to two groups of 10 participants each. Aerobic group engaged in exercise training using bicycle ergometer for 30 minutes thrice a week for 6 weeks while the Sedentary group (control) did not engage in any exercise for that 6 weeks. All participants were within the age range of 45-60 years of age. Before the exercise interventions, the vital signs, anthropometric measurements (Height, weight, body mass index), percentage body fat (%Bfat), serum concentration BALP and urine concentration PYD of all participants in both groups were obtained. After 6 weeks all parameters above were also assessed. Data collected were analysed using t-test and Pearson product moment correlation with alpha set at p<0.05. The results showed that serum concentration BALP and urine concentration pyridinoline (PYD) was significantly (p<0.05) increased and decreased respectively in the aerobic group when comparing before and after 6 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, unlike in the control group. The study thus concluded that moderate-intensity aerobic exercises can help in preventing osteoporosis due to its effect in increasing serum concentration of BALP and decreasing urine concentration of PYD in women at postmenopause.
