Differential effects of jump versus running exercise on trabecular bone architecture and strength in rats

PURPOSE: This study compared differences in trabecular bone architecture and strength caused by jump and running exercises in rats. METHODS: Ten-week-old male Wistar rats (n=45) were randomly assigned to three body weight-matched groups: a sedentary control group (CON, n=15); a treadmill running group (RUN, n=15); and a jump exercise group (JUM, n=15). Treadmill running was performed at 25 m/min without inclination, 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. The jump exercise protocol comprised 10 jumps/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks, with a jump height of 40 cm. We used microcomputed tomography to assess microarchitecture, mineralization density, and fracture load as predicted by finite element analysis (FEA) at the distal femoral metaphysis. RESULTS: Both jump and running exercises produced significantly higher trabecular bone mass, thickness, number, and fracture load compared to the sedentary control group. The jump and running exercises, however, showed different results in terms of the structural characteristics of trabecular bone. Jump exercises enhanced trabecular bone mass by thickening the trabeculae, while running exercises did so by increasing the trabecular number. FEA-estimated fracture load did not differ significantly between the exercise groups. CONCLUSION: This study elucidated the differential effects of jump and running exercise on trabecular bone architecture in rats. The different structural changes in the trabecular bone, however, had no significant impact on trabecular bone strength.