Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To estimate the effect of new complex physical rehabilitation program on core muscles strength in patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs).

Materials and methods: Study comprised of 90 osteoporotic patients aged 50–80 (65.4 ± 9.1 years) with low-traumatic VFs who were randomized as 2:1 into intervention group (group1, n = 60) and control group (group2, n = 30). Patients in group1 received an intensive rehabilitation course including back muscle training with mechanical loads #10; sensorimotor training on double unstable platform #10; kinesohydrotherapy in a pool #15; physical exercises in a gym #10. Group2 was prescribed only physical exercises in a gym #15. All patients undergo tenzodynamometry on BackCheck diagnostic unit (Dr. Wolff, Germany) at baseline, at the end of rehabilitation course and in a month after the rehabilitation as follow-up.

Results: After a rehabilitation course muscle strength increased significantly in trunk extensors (TE) from 15.8 ± 10.1 to 21.7 ± 13.1 kg (P < 0.0001), trunk flexors (TF) from 14.5 ± 9.1 to 18.9 ± 10.2 kg (P < 0.001), left lateral flexors (LLF) from 12.8 ± 7.2 to 17.5 ± 9.6 kg (P < 0.01) and right lateral flexors (RLF) from 13.2 ± 7.1 to 17.8 ± 9.2 kg (P < 0.01). The maximal improvement of muscle strength was registered in TF +6.5 ± 57.5% above recommended values (P < 0.001). TE strength deficiency significantly decreased (P < 0.001), but did not reach the recommended values −15.8 ± 25.8%. After the 1-month follow-up muscle strength in all examined muscles didn’t significantly diminished vs results just after rehabilitation course completion (P >0.05). The strength of all the studied muscles were higher (P < 0.01) and the muscle deficiency was less in TE (P < 0.05) and TF (P < 0.001) in group1 vs group2 in a month of follow-up after rehabilitation course.

Conclusions: A new complex physical rehabilitation program leads to increase of muscle strength and elimination of muscle strength deficiency in patients with osteoporotic VFs, and these effects are not attenuate for at least a month after the treatment completion.