Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness (Dec 2014)

Effects of short-term swimming exercise on bone mineral density, geometry, and microstructural properties in sham and ovariectomized rats

  • Foong Kiew Ooi,
  • Wan Mohd Norsyam,
  • Asok Kumar Ghosh,
  • Siti Amrah Sulaiman,
  • Chee Keong Chen,
  • Leung-kim Hung

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesf.2014.09.001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 2
pp. 80 – 87

Abstract

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Little information exists about the effects of swimming exercise on bone health in ovariectomized animals with estrogen deficiency, which resembles the postmenopausal state and age-related bone loss in humans. This study investigated the effects of swimming exercise on tibia and femur bone mineral density (BMD), geometry, and microstructure in sham and ovariectomized rats. Forty 3-month-old female rats were divided into four groups: sham operated-sedentary control (Sham-control), sham operated with swimming exercise group (Sham-Swim), ovariectomy-sedentary control (OVx-control), and ovariectomy and swimming exercise (OVx-Swim) groups. Swimming sessions were performed by the rats 90 minutes/day for 5 days/week for a total of 8 weeks. At the end of the study, tibial and femoral proximal volumetric total BMD, midshaft cortical volumetric BMD, cross-sectional area, and cross-sectional moment of inertia (MOI), and bone microstructural properties were measured for comparison. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The Sham-Swim group exhibited significantly (p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA) greater values in bone geometry parameters, that is, tibial midshaft cortical area and MOI compared to the Sham-control group. However, no significant differences were observed in these parameters between the Ovx-Swim and Ovx-control groups. There were no significant differences in femoral BMD between the Sham-Swim and Sham-control groups. Nevertheless, the Ovx-Swim group elicited significantly (p < 0.05; one-way ANOVA) higher femoral proximal total BMD and improved bone microstructure compared to the Ovx-Sham group. In conclusion, the positive effects of swimming on bone properties in the ovariectomized rats in the present study may suggest that swimming as a non- or low-weight-bearing exercise may be beneficial for enhancing bone health in the postmenopausal population.

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