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Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (PMOP) is induced by the deficiency of estrogen in postmenopausal women. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been confirmed to be effective in clinic. We adopted ovariectomized osteoporosis model of rats to observe the role of EA in PMOP. Fifty female SD rats were divided randomly into 5 groups: intact (INT, n = 10), sham operation (Sham, n = 10), model (n = 10), estrogen (E, n = 10) and electroacupuncture (EA, n = 10). The bone mineral content (BMC) and the bone mineral density (BMD) were examined in lumbar_1–6 and right thigh-bone, respectively, and estrodiol (E₂), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGF-BPs) were tested by RIA or ELISA. The results showed that BMC and BMD of lumbar 1–6 and right thigh-bone in PMOP model rats decreased markedly, while the level of serum E₂, IGF-I and IGF-BP1 were lower than in INT and Sham. However, EA could upgrade the contents of IGF-I and IGF-BP1 to increase BMD in PMOP rats, while no significant difference was seen in E group. Therefore, EA may promote IGF system to improve PMOP.

Objective: To study the effects of square dance on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Methods: Fifty postmenopausal women (aging 45–60) with osteoporosis were randomly assigned to a research group and a control group. The patients in the research group received 600mg of calcium combined with square dance (5 times a week, 30 to 60 minutes each time) for 6 months while those in the control group only received 600mg of calcium. BMD, changes in bone turnover markers and bone pain were assessed before and after the treatment.

Results: (1) After the 6-month treatment, BMD of L${}_{2-4}$ and the femoral neck significantly increased in the research group ($p<0.05$). No significant change was observed in BMD of the Ward’s region. BMD in the control group did not change significantly ($p>0.05$). (2) No significant difference was found in serum levels of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase between the two groups both before and after the treatment ($p>0.05$). Serum levels of P1NP had a significant increase, while $\beta$-CTX’s level did not change significantly. (3) The bone pain in both groups has been effectively relieved. The pain in the research group was relieved significantly compared to the control group.

Conclusions: By improving the BMD and relieving the pain, square dancing can exert positive effects on women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Square dancing may become a feasible strategy for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

Whether Chinese herbal formulas are effective in treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis remains unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the experimental evidence of both in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies using Chinese herbal formulas in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Searches were applied to various databases with relevant keywords. Original in vivo and in vitro studies using Chinese herbal formulas to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis, and with full text available, were included. Er-Xian Decoction, Bu-Shen-Ning-Xin Decoction, Qing E Formula, Liuwei Dihuang Wan, and Xian-Ling-Gu-Bao Decoction, the most commonly studied formulas, were selected from the pool of Chinese medicine. The preclinical data indicated the potential use of Chinese herbal formulas in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The underlying mechanisms included bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), Wnt/$\beta$-catenin, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/c-Jun $N$ terminal kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/JNK/MAPK), estrogen receptor (ER), and osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor $\kappa$B ligand (OPG/RANKL) signaling pathways. This study demonstrated the anti-osteoporotic effect of Chinese herbal formulas targeting different pathways in bone metabolism. Further study with adequate sample size and follow-up time, appropriate controls, and optimal blinding is required.