Vital signs: Toughening up

Older women can fight off brittle bones and reduce the chance of suffering a broken hip or other fractures in a fall by two vigorous 45-minute exercise sessions a week say US researchers.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association involving 39 women aged between 50 and 70, they found that those who were put on an exercise training programme developed increased bone and muscle mass as well as improved strength and balance.

A further study from California reported in Medical Tribune has found that running regularly fails to prevent bone loss in older people, although it does strengthen ligaments.