BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a condition resulting in an increased risk of skeletal fractures due to a reduction in bone mass and degradation in bone microstructure. Treatment of osteoporosis usually involves the application of pharmacological agents as the first choice. Pharmacotherapy alone is not sufficient for the comprehensive management of osteoporosis, as pharmacotherapy has no effect on increasing muscle strength, improving balance ability, and preventing falls. Exercise, considered as an important non-pharmacologic therapy, plays a considerable role in the prevention of osteoporosis. The importance of therapeutic exercises in the treatment of osteoporosis has been recognized gradually. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of exercise in the treatment of osteoporosis combined with some of the latest research literatures. METHODS: Clinical reports and mechanism researches about effects of different types of exercise on bone strength especially the treatment of osteoporosis were retrieved from CNKI database and Medline database with the key words of "osteoporosis, bone mineral density, bone strength, treatment, exercise, stress, Tai Chi, muscle, bone architecture" in both Chinese and English from January 2001 to February 2013. The repetitive researches and atypical reports were eliminated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Therapeutic exercises including aerobic exercise, resistance, impact movement, and vibration, which can safely increase bone strength and muscle strength, improve equilibrium function, and prevent falls and fractures. For spinal deformity patients, appropriate orthotics can improve the security and promote exercise therapy. As with drug therapy, therapeutic exercises are also individualized. Exercise program should be selected under the insurance of good compliance and security. Exercises that involve high strain rates seem to be more effective than others. However, all these benefits are comparatively small, and should be maintained by continuous exercises.

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