Effect of high-impact and low-repetition training on bones in ovariectomized rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of high-impact and low-repetition jump training on bones in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Forty female Wistar rats were sham-operated (sham) or OVX at the age of 11 weeks. The rats were divided randomly into the following four groups: sham-sedentary (SS; n = 10), sham-exercised (SE; n = 10), OVX-sedentary (OS; n = 10), and OVX-exercised (OE; n = 10). The rats started the jump training at the age of 12 weeks. The jump-training protocol was 10 times/day, 5 days/week and the jumping-height was 40 cm. After 8 weeks of training, the mass and breaking force in the tibia and ulna, cross-sectional areas of diaphysis in the tibia, and serum bone turnover markers were measured. The jump training significantly increased the fat-free dry weight, ash weight, and ultimate breaking force in the tibia. The rate of increase in these parameters was similar in both the sham and the OVX groups. On the other hand, in the ulna, there were no significant changes in the ultimate breaking force. The jump training significantly increased the periosteal perimeter and cortical area, although the increase in these parameters in OE compared with OS was lower than that in SE compared with SS. The jump training significantly increased serum osteocalcin in the OVX groups, as well as in the sham groups. These results suggest that high-impact and low-repetition training had beneficial effects on bone formation and bone biomechanical properties in OVX rats, as well as in sham rats.