[The influence of exercise therapy on the psychological status of women presenting with osteoporosis].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate effectiveness of correction of the psychological status of postmenopausal women suffering primary osteoporosis (OP) by means of exercise therapy. Diagnosis of OP was verified by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The degree of depression was assessed using the CES-D questionnaire and that of reactive anxiety by the C.D. Spielberger and Yu.L. Khanin method. A visual-analogue scale was used to obtain self-assessment of the patients' health and pain intensity. Physical rehabilitation was shown to cause reduction of reactive anxiety and alleviate pain syndrome. As a result, the quality of the patients' life improved regardless of OP severity. However, beneficial effect of exercise therapy was apparent only in patients presenting with mild and moderately severe anxiety/depressive disorders but was lacking in more serious cases.