Clinical Medicine Journal Vol. 1, No. 5, 2015, pp. 162-170 http://www.aiscience.org/journal/cmj ISSN: 2381-7631 (Print); ISSN: 2381-764X (Online) * Corresponding author E-mail address: eslamiyanf@tbzmed.ac.ir (F. Eslamian) Effects of Aerobic Versus Strengthening Exercises on Improvement of Balance, Bone Density and Quality of Life in Post Menopausal Women with Osteoporosis Fariba Eslamian 1, * , Seyed Kazem Shakouri 1 , Mehrzad Hajialilo 2 , Susan Kolahi 2 , Jalil Toofan 3 1 Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2 Internal Medicine Department, Dividion of Rheumatology, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 3 Speicalist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Tabriz, Iran Abstract Objectives: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise therapy on balance, bone density and life quality in women with primary osteoporosis and to compare two types of aerobic and strengthening exercises on improving the mentioned indexes. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 90 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis during an 18- month period were randomized into three groups of 30 people. All groups received mineral supplementation and anti bone loss medications. In second and third groups, aerobic and strengthening exercises were conducted for 9 months. Balance parameters including falling risk and postural instability of Biodex instrument and clinical measure of “timed up and go” (TUG) were determined. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar and femoral regions was measured by Densitometry. Quality of life was determined by SF36 questionnaire. Results: Although average BMD was significantly increased in all groups, mean of this increase in BMD of lumbar and femoral areas had no statistically significant difference among three groups (0.29 ± 0.19, 0.26 ± 0.25, 0.26±0.23, P=0.834). Significant recovery was noted in reduction of postural instability and TUG in two exercise groups, but with better improvement for aerobic team. Improving life quality has been demonstrated in all groups. Conclusions: Performing coherent 9-month exercise program in post menopause women increases strength, maintain balance and improve life quality compared to the women under medication alone. A subtle increase in bone density was observed among three groups without distinct difference, effects of which seems to be stronger by long-term exercise. Therefore combination of aerobic and strengthening exercises along with medication is recommended in this spectrum of patients. Keywords Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Women, Bone Mineral Density, Aerobic Exercises, Strengthening Exercises Received: November 9, 2015 / Accepted: November 18, 2015 / Published online: January 5, 2016 @ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 1. Introduction Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease and it is considered as a global health issue. According to World Health Organization (WHO), osteoporosis is defined as skeletal structure changes as loss of bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below the peak mean bone mass of young normal adults [1]. The main complication of osteoporosis, which is more common in post menopausal