Wearable Devices for Assessing Exercise Targeting Bone Health in Post-Menopausal Women with Low Bone Mineral Density

This is a 16-week pilot exercise intervention which will involve progressive increases in the volume and intensity of high-impact exercise, in the form of hopping and skipping. This study is designed to improve bone mineral density in post-menopausal women with low bone mineral density. The hopping will be performed on both legs to avoid unilateral muscle hypertrophy which can compromise gait and result in injury. Participants will attend Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) for one session at the commencement of each cycle (weeks 1, 5 and 9) for instruction on performing the exercise required for that cycle. The final cycle will run for approximately 8 weeks.. Prior to each exercise session at MHTP, participants will be fitted with a prototype wearable device we have developed which will measure forces during the session. These force measurements will be used to personalise the intervention for participants, ensuring that they are progressed throughout the intervention. The prototype device will be worn for the duration of the session at MHTP. Participants will initially complete 3, 30 minute sessions per week during the first block of the intervention. These sessions are to be completed over the course of the week, approximately every second day. Over the course of the intervention participants will gradually progress and build up to 4-5, 45 minute sessions per week, before the final block of 7, one hour sessions per week, with all sessions completed at home with the exception of one session at the beginning of each cycle (weeks 1, 5 and 9). These 7 sessions are to be equally spread over the course of the week.. This session at the MHTP is designed to familiarise participants with the progressively increasing exercise protocol. Participants will also aim to increase both the vertical height, and distance of the hops progressively throughout the study, and this will be controlled by the research team. The exercise sessions target intensity will be approximately 2g (2x body weight force) at the beginning of the trial, progressing to >5g (5x body weight force) at the conclusion of the intervention, These gravitation forces will be assessed by our wearable device.. Each of the sessions at MHTP will be delivered by a qualified exercise physiologist, clinical trial research assistant or PhD student who is coordinating the trial, all of whom are extremely experienced and proficient in the delivery of targeted exercise sessions.. Participant adherence will be measured through use of both subjective and objective methods, in the form of a commercially available fitness activity monitors in the form of FitBit Charge, and the ActiGraph GT3x, along with physical activity and exercise diaries. These activity trackers will be worn for a period of 7 days following the appointment at MHTP.