Conference Coverage

FORTIFY Bones RCT Tests Resistance Training for Lumbar Spine BMD in Older Adults

Edited by:
Brian McCurdy

Key Highlights

  • FORTIFY Bones compared moderate- and high-intensity progressive resistance training with a home posture and balance program over 1 year.
  • The trial enrolled 324 adults aged ≥50 years with low bone mineral density (BMD) or increased fracture risk.
  • Investigators reported their results at the American Society for Bone & Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2026 Annual Meeting.

The results of the FORTIFY Bones randomized controlled trial will be presented at the American Society for Bone & Mineral Research (ASBMR) 2026 Annual Meeting.

The investigators sought to determine the effect of resistance training as a standalone intervention. They noted that many exercise studies combine resistance training with impact exercise or other activities, making it difficult to isolate its contribution to bone mineral density (BMD). The trial evaluated twice-weekly training over 1 year, with additional analyses planned to compare training intensities and assess other health outcomes.

Study Participants

Between September 2022 and February 2025, researchers assessed 699 individuals for eligibility and randomized 324, with 108 participants at each of 3 sites. The mean age was 67.1 years (SD, 6.6), and 302 participants, or 93%, were female. Retention at the 1-year follow-up was 92%.

Researchers note between-group differences in BMD and other outcomes will be reported at ASBMR 2026.

Clinical Implications

According to the investigators, FORTIFY Bones will support resistance-training decisions for people at risk of fracture. Planned secondary analyses will address whether high-intensity training is more effective than moderate-intensity training and whether resistance training improves other health outcomes.

“The results of the FORTIFY Bones trial will support decision making on resistance training for people at risk of fracture,” the researchers concluded.

Reference

Giangregorio LM, Chilibeck P, Bleakney R, et al. Finding the Optimal Resistance Training Intensity for Your Bones (FORTIFY Bones): a randomized controlled trial. Abstract presented at: American Society for Bone & Mineral Research 2026 Annual Meeting; October 9-12, 2026; Boston, MA. Accessed October 7, 2026. https://eppro01.ativ.me/appinfo.php?page=Inthtml&project=ASBMR26&id=p8640