Bikram Yoga as a Countermeasure of Bone Loss in Women英文文献资料.docVIP

Chinese Medicine, 2010, 1, 1-4 doi:10.4236/cm.2010.11001 Published Online June 2010 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/cm) Bikram Yoga as a Countermeasure of Bone Loss in Women Apurba Mukherjee , Prithwis Mukherjee , Robert R. Rude 1 1 2 1 Bikram’s Yoga College of India, Los Angeles, USA 2 Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California and Orthopedic Hospital of Los, Los Angeles, USA E-mail: apurba@IEEE.org Received May 28, 2010; revised June 10, 2010; accepted June 20, 2010 Abstract The purpose of this pilot study was to observe whether Bikram Yoga training helps bone growth or arrest bone loss in women. In this study, the bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the hip, spine and whole body for a group of 14 pre-menopausal women (11 Caucasians, 2 Asians and 1 African American). These 14 women had participated in Bikram Yoga classes (26 yoga postures) at least 3 times a week for 3 or more years. DEXA scans were used to measure BMD at the lumbar spine, hip and the whole body. In addi- tion, the Z-scores were calculated for each subject at these three locations. The study results indicate that the BMD at these body areas of this group of women is generally above the mean BMD expected for normal, healthy, women of comparable age and ethnicity. Overall, the study findings suggest that the intervention of Bikram Yoga training may be beneficial for skeletal health and could prevent bone loss. Keywords: Osteoporosis, Bone Mineral Density (BMD) 1. Introduction America suffers from osteoporotic fracture in older age. Bones are living tissues and are continually broken down and rebuilt in human bodies. Consisting of 75% minerals, (like calcium and phosphorous), and 25% gela- tin matrix of water and collagen, bones continue to be reshaped and renewed all the time. While bones appear solid they can be quite flexible and