Physical activity in women in menopause: a collaborative partnership for active lifestyles for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis / HAPPY BONES
▶Summary
Background Menopause is an age-dependent physiological condition associated with a natural decline in estrogen levels causing a progressive decrease in muscle mass and strength and bone density. Sarcopenia and osteoporosis often coexist in elderly people, with a prevalence of the latter in elderly women. It has been estimated that at least 1 in 3 women 50+ experience osteoporotic fractures, often requiring hospitalization and long-term care, causing a large financial burden to health insurance systems. Objectives HAPPY BONES aimed to develop an innovative exercise protocol for osteopenic/ osteoporotic prevention and treatment and to involve sedentary women aged 50-65 in this moderate exercise protocol to increase their quality of life (in physiological and psychological terms), to compare the drop out and the adherence to the training protocol proposed at workplace and sport facility and to train exercise & health professionals in order to standardize the exercise protocol for osteoporosis and make it tr Implementation Development of:IO1 - HAPPY BONES Training Manual (for Health and Sport Professionals and Trainers)IO2 - Manual about the application of the HAPPY BONES training protocol and its results;IO3 – Analysis of the results of the application of the protocol /Publication of a Scientific paper;IO4 – HAPPY BONES Vademecum Besides, in the framework of the dissemination activities, the project logo to create the project visual identity, the project website in English to present the intellectual outputs Achievements At the end of the 6 months of physical activity, the results of the strength and functional capacity tests showed significant improvements in all participants. The protocol proposed at the workplace showed a reduced level of dropout compared to those experienced by the women that performed the training in sports centers. Moreover, the protocol improved the general health of the participants, regardless of where it has been proposed. Also, the quality of life questionnaire, administered both bef