Bone mineral density and back muscle strength in spinal osteoporotics

In the 63 patients with spinal osteoporosis who had been treated with vitamin D₃ and calcium supplement, back muscle strength was compared with the following parameters; bone mineral density (BMD) of the distal 1/6 and 1/3 of radius by single photon absorptiometry, BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual photon absorptiometry, body height, body weight and age. Back muscle strength correlated significantly with BMD of lumbar spine and BMD of radius (1/3), and less with BMD of femoral neck. The strength of back muscle also showed a significant negative correlation with age. Back muscle strength and the body weight were the significant predictors of the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine. These data suggest that back muscle strength has a possibility of affecting bone mineral density of the spine.