Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Bone Health, Physical Fitness and Quality of Life in Elderly Women with Osteopenia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

It’s a single-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial study. A total of 48 community-dwelling elderly women (60-74 years) with osteopenia will be randomly assigned to the HIIT group or non-exercise control group. The HIIT group will receive a 24-week HIIT program (2 sessions/week, from 41min 40seconds/session to 47min 40seconds/session). The non-exercise control group will receive 24-week recreation workshops with the same frequency and time duration of HIIT program. Participant recruitment data and adherence rates in the interventions will be collected. Bone health (bone mineral density using dual X-ray absorptiometry, serum bone turnover markers), physical fitness and self-reported quality of life will be collected at the pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 6-month follow up stages. It is expected that the HIIT program will be a feasible and effective exercise program in improving bone health among elderly women with osteopenia.