Daily activity relates to not only femoral bone mineral density, but also hip structural analysis parameters: A cross-sectional observational study

Abstract Objectives Physical activity to maintain bone mass and strength is important for hip fracture prevention. We aim to investigate the relationship between physical performance/activity status and bone mineral density (BMD)/hip structural analysis (HSA) parameters among postmenopausal women in Japan. Methods Sixty-two postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis (mean age: 72.61 ± 7.43 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. They were evaluated for BMD and HSA in the proximal femur by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and underwent several physical performance tests, the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale of 25 questions (GLFS-25). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to summarize data on the BMD/HSA parameters. Partial correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed to investigate the relationship between physical performance/activity status and BMD/HSA parameters of the proximal femur. Results In a partial correlation analysis adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI), GLFS-25 scores were correlated with HSA parameter (|r| = 0.260–0.396, P  Conclusions The GLFS-25 score was associated with the BMD/HSA parameter, which may reflect the bone strength of the proximal femur as calculated by PCA.