Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research was to compare the effects of endurance vs. resistance training upon local BMD changes. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six young volunteer girls (age 22.66±1.56 y, BMI: 22.85±2.17), with sedentary lifestyles, were selected and randomly divided to three groups (n=12). The endurance group ran 36 sessions on a treadmill, 3/wk at 70 to 80% of MHR, 40 min per session, while resistance training included 36 circuit training sessions, 70 to 80% of 1RM, 6 to 8 repetitions in 3 sets by 2 min rest in between. Results: Both the endurance and resistance training protocols induced significant increases in the BMD lumbar spine, femur neck and distal radius BMD (P<0.05). Although only resistance training induced significant variations in BMD at femur neck in the control group, it was in the aerobic group that better effects were observed in the back position (P<0.05). Conclusion: There are considerable differences in the skeleton’s local BMD responses to different modes of exercise.