Background Effect of exercise for patient with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Objectives Severe osteoporosis, with compression fractures of the vertebrae leads to a decrease in the quality of life and functional activity of patients. The effectiveness of exercise could affect improvement in functional status and quality of life of patients.

Methods Seventy-eight postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures were randomized into the exercise group (n=40) and control group (n=38). The mean age was 70.7 ±8.1 SD years in the exercisers and 67.6 ± 7.0 SD years in the control (p=0.07). All women had at least one osteoporotic vertebral fracture and suffered from chronic back pain. Baseline variables in QUALEFFO score were not significantly different between groups. Exercise program included stretching, strength training and weight-bearing exercises. The program was conducted two times per week 60 minute a day for 12 months. Participants in the control group were instructed to continue with their usual daily activities. Participants were assessed at baseline and 12 months using the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) and the “Timed Up and Go” test. Dynamic balance was assessedusing ofstabilometrics- computer posturographicsystem of diagnostics of balance, skills movements Balance-Master, NeuroCom.

Results There was improvement in total QUALEFFO score over 12 months in the exercise group (44.2) in compared to control group (56.6), p<0.0000, improvements were observed as in total QUALEFFO score, so and in all domains. According to the results of stabilometrics received significant difference in the assessment of functional capacity, skills movements and sways of the centre of gravity in the exercise group. There was improvement in test «SIT-TO-STAND - WT Transfer» in the exercise group (0,9) compared with the control (1.5) p=0,001, «Body WT Rising Index» - 9.8 and 12.2 (p=0,03) and «Tandem Walk end Sway» - 6,8 and 9.1 (p=0,02), respectively. A small decrease of the time of performance «Timed Up and Go» test observed in the exercise group from 11.5 to 10.8 (p<0.05) and there were no significant change in the control group (from 10.8 to 11.1, p=0.37).

Conclusions Exercise therapy reliably improves the quality of life of patients with osteoporotic fractures of the vertebrae, as well as improves the functional mobility and balanceof patients.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared