Muscle strength, power and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with bone mineral density in
men aged 31-60 years
Sammanfattning
Background: Osteoporotic fractures represent a growing economical burden to society, not only
because of fractures in women, but also because of an increasing number of fractures in men. Aims:
In this cross-sectional study we aimed to investigate the association of muscular and cardio-
respiratory fitness with BMD at the spine and hip in men. Results: The association between
independent variables maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max), leg power and hand grip strength, and
dependent variables BMD at the spine and total hip was explored in a series of linear regression
models successively adjusted for age, weight and height, smoking, alcohol intake and leisure time
physical activity level. In the fully adjusted model we found a significant association of VO2max with
BMD at the lumbar spine, p<0.0089. Furthermore, we observed significant associations of VO2max
(p<0.0022) and leg power (p<0.011) with BMD at total hip. Conclusions: We found that
cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with BMD in men. Furthermore, hand grip strength and leg
power were associated with increasing BMD at the lumbar spine and total hip in men, respectively.
Further prospective studies are needed to further investigate the association between physical
activity and BMD in men.