"Before I started the program, my bone density was below average," Black said.
"And, at my age, I certainly expected to be losing more. To actually gain bone is really fantastic. It's been a great motivation. I think you need to keep moving as you age, otherwise you won't be able to.
"You don't have to go downhill," she added with a laugh. "This shows you can go uphill, too." Another study participant is Pat Coolican, 71, who loads a bit of extra weight in her vest for 20 jumps, then goes another 50 to 60 jumps with no weight. She does this three times a week.
"I was never really one for exercise," she said, "but I stayed with it because of the study. And it has made a difference. I've noticed that it has become easy to get out of a chair. And when I go on trips, I walk a lot more; I have the stamina.
"Another big plus," she added, "has been an improvement in my balance. Now when I stumble, I'm able to catch myself without falling."
Another added bonus, Snow said, is that some women in the study who had suffered from arthritis pain reported a decrease in symptoms due to better joint stability.
Snow said more research needs to be done in the field and she is hoping to conduct a larger, multi-center clinical trial of her study to create a model for the prevention of falls and fractures.
The OSU exercise program is being shared with the public through an outreach initiative involving the College of Health and Human Performance and the OSU Extension Service. In addition to offering a series of classes, university researchers and educators have offered instructor training workshops throughout the state.
For more information on the outreach, cal
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Contact: Christine Snow
christine.snow@orst.edu
541-737-6788
Oregon State University
30-Apr-2000