Can you spend five minutes a day to help with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis research?

Loughborough University researchers studying the possible health benefits of daily hopping exercises are looking for female volunteers aged 55-70 years to take part in the project.

Previous work from the team at National Centre for Sports, Exercise and Health Medicine (NSCEM), at Loughborough University, found that doing the exercise for just five minutes-a-day, at home, could improve bone strength and may reduce the risk of hip fracture. Now, the researchers are continuing to investigate the effect of exercise on bone and joint health to help improve the understanding of conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

Supervisor Dr Katherine Brooke-Wavell said: “It is estimated that half of women aged over 50 will have an osteoporotic fracture at some stage. The loss of bone after menopause contributes to the bone weakness that can lead to osteoporosis. Because of this, it is important to find out whether the exercises that improved bone strength in older men can also benefit postmenopausal women.”

PhD student Chris Hartley, who is coordinating the study, added: “It is also important to investigate the effects of exercises that strengthen bone on joint structures that may be affected by osteoarthritis.”

The team is hoping to find women (55-70) to volunteer and help them the research. The study involves five minutes of exercise daily, at home, for six months. During that time, volunteers will be invited to visit the new NCSEM building at Loughborough University for MRI scans of their joints and a DXA scan for information on bone strength. Researchers will monitor any changes that occur and measure the effect of the exercise programme.

Anyone who is interested in taking part, or would like more information, please get in touch with Dr Katherine Brooke-Wavell (01509 222749) K.S.F.Brooke-wavell@lboro.ac.uk or Chris Hartley c.hartley@lboro.ac.uk

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 17/04

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Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named the best in the country for its student experience in the 2016 THE Student Experience Survey. Loughborough was ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2017 and 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2017 and was also named Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017, and University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In September 2015 the University opened an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

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