ONERO Exercise for Bone Health (Case Study)

AUTHOR: JUDITH ANNE GOULD, BPHTY (HONS), MPHIL

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis and Osteopenia are common conditions amongst older adults in Hong Kong which can increase the risk of fractures and result in significant morbidity and mortality rates. A 2019 study estimated the prevalence of osteoporosis in people over the age of 50 in Hong Kong to be as high as 37%⁴.  A more recent study in 2021 which focused on 1800 elderly women in Hong Kong (over 65) found that 15.9% were considered normal, 33.2% were low risk osteopenic, 27.2% were high-risk osteopenic and 23.7% were osteoporotic⁵.

High-intensity exercise has been shown to be an effective intervention to improve BMD and functional measurements in postmenopausal women and men over the age of 50 ^2,3,. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of exercise interventions in younger people (under the age of 60) with osteopenia or osteoporosis in Hong Kong as most studies concentrate on postmenopausal women and men over 60 years of age^6,7,8.

OBJECTIVES

This case study series aimed to report the potential benefits of a high-intensity exercise programme Onero™, on BMD in 4 clients (3 women and 1 man) and functional measurements of muscle strength, agility, and balance in 2 clients (1 woman and 1 man) with osteopenia or osteoporosis, all under the age of 60. The subjects were assessed and treated in a private physiotherapy clinic in Hong Kong by the same Physiotherapist.

METHODS

Subjects: Four subjects who had undergone a repeat DXA were chosen for review.

Exercise Intervention: Onero™ is a high-intensity resistance and impact training programme which consists of lifting weights, impact, and balance activities. The private sessions were 40 minutes in duration and clients attended a maximum of once a week for between 16 to 78 weeks (see graph 1 below)

Measurements: The before and after exercise intervention DXA tests were taken at various radiology clinics in HK (chosen by the individual client) and included different regions of interest (ROI). Each client was able to be retested at the same radiology clinic using the same equipment.

The functional measurements tested gait speed, lower extremity strength, and balance. Measurements included the following tests: tandem gait, 5 times sit to stand (5xSTS),functional reach (FR), Timed up and Go (TUG), Tragus to Wall (TTW), Knees to Wall (KTW),Single Leg Stance (SLST).

Exercise Progression: The exercises were progressively increased in intensity and difficulty over the course of the program according to the subject’s capabilities.

Graph 2 shows the progression of weights lifted by Subject A over the course of her treatment.

RESULTS

Graphs 3 to 6 show the baseline and end of treatment Bone Mineral Density measurements for each Subject A,B,C, and D respectively.

Functional Tests:

In addition to the Bone Mineral Density tests, 2 clients, (A and D) had functional measurements taken at baseline and at the conclusion of their exercise programme.

Graphs 7 and 8 show the functional measurements at baseline and at discharge of Subjects A and D respectively.

PERCENTAGE IMPROVEMENT OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY

All four subjects recorded improvements post exercise intervention in their Bone Mineral Density, ranging from 0.4 % to 30.4%.

PERCENTAGE IMPROVEMENT IN FUNCTIONAL TESTS

In addition to the Bone Mineral Density tests, 2 clients, (A and D) had functional measurements taken at baseline and at the conclusion of their exercise programme.

DISCUSSION

A Hong Kong study by Kwok et al, 2020⁹ recommends universal DXA testing in women 65 years or over and men 70 years or over. None of our subjects fall into this category but nevertheless were tested and found to be osteopenic or osteoporotic. They commenced Onero™, an exercise programme that includes high-intensity lifts, impact and balance training.

Previous random controlled studies^6,7,8 in Hong Kong have tested the effect of exercise on bone density in women and men with a mean age between 60.5 to 73.2 years. Our 4 subjects were considerably younger – with a mean age of 44.5 years. The results represent the first research of the exercise effect of Onero™  on DXA scores in this Hong Kong demographic.

The number of 40-minute sessions varied from 22 to 78 and over a time period varying from 16 to 78 weeks. In the LIFTMOR²  study which underpins Onero™, 30 minute group classes were held twice a week for 8 months. Previous studies in Hong Kong^6,7,8 have trained subjects from 12 to 24 weeks, 2 times a week for up to 60 to 75 minutes per session,  in a group setting. We were not able to provide a group setting due to space constraints, nor could we apply the same “dose” of exercise to each subject due to variable individual capabilities, availability,  financial restraints and Covid-19 restrictions.

The 4 subjects varied in presentation with regard to the level of bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis), the cause of decreased bone density, age and gender. The positive results in spite of the different characteristics of the subjects suggests that this type of exercise programme may be effective in improving bone health in individuals under the age of 60 years (male and female) with osteoporosis or osteopenia caused by primary or secondary causes.

While the percentage improvement in BMD was positive – ranging 0.4 to 30.4%, a 3 percent change in BMD is considered to be the minimally clinical significant difference (MCID) required. Subject A did not cross the 3% threshold, while Subjects B , C, and D showed improvements above 3% in some if not all ROI’s.  

Subject C showed the highest percentage improvement in BMD in her forearm measurement , a 30.4% increase. This large improvement may be due to the increased load through the bones of the upper limb during the overhead press exercise as well as increased muscle contraction around the wrist and elbow when gripping the bar during other lifts. Previous exercise interventions may not have provided enough load through the bones of the upper limb or focussed more  on lower limb loading.

Two subjects (A and D) completed the functional tests at discharge. One of the most important areas of treatment in clients with decreased bone density is to decrease the risk of falling due to poor balance, agility, and lower limb strength. Both subjects, while only in their mid 30’s were still able to show improvement in all the functional tests for speed, agility and balance. Currently there is no universally accepted threshold for MCID for the functional tests utilised in this study.

LIMITATIONS

Unlike RCT’s this exercise intervention was not applied in isolation. All clients were encouraged to pursue every avenue possible to improve their bone health. They were provided with information regarding osteopenia and osteoporosis, what constitutes a calcium rich diet, appropriate levels of supplements (for example Vitamin D and Calcium) and  we also referred to other specialists such as endocrinologists and dieticians as appropriate. Some clients were also exercising on their own or with personal trainers so the positive effects may have been amplified in their cases.

Due to space restrictions in our clinic we are not able to conduct group classes as in the LIFTMOR and Hong Kong RCT studies.  This makes the treatment programme  an expensive option.

FUTURE

Future research will be aimed at providing Onero™ to the wider community in Hong Kong, improving the capture of functional tests to show the various physical improvements and further investigating what is the optimal dose of exercise for this demographic.

CONCLUSIONS

This case study series provides preliminary evidence that Onero™ may be effective in improving BMD and functional measurements in women and men with osteopenia or osteoporosis under the age of 60 years of age in Hong Kong. Further research with a larger sample size and a randomised controlled design is warranted to confirm these findings and provide more information regarding the optimal exercise “dose” for this demographic.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to the subjects who granted permission to use their data in this presentation and to my colleague Sophie von Burg for her assistance.

REFERENCES

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