Dr. Witzke directs the Bone Research Lab at CSUSM. Her current research focuses on the dose-response effects of jumping on bone health in premenopausal women. Her active study is known as "The JumpStudy @ CSUSM." We are now recruiting women between the ages of 18-42 y for Cohort 2! Read on for more information...

About the JumpStudy

The CSUSM JumpStudy is a 4-year project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of the research is to determine the best recommendation for jumping exercise to improve bone health in premenopausal women. This study addresses an important health problem (osteoporosis) by using exercise as preventive medicine. The results will standardize what type of exercise we recommend for women to improve their bone mass before menopause.

We know that jumping works based on numerous randomized controlled trials that have shown it to be effective...now we just need to know the correct "dose" of jumping to recommend.

This study seeks to answer this important question by randomizing 300 women to 10 groups. The groups are comprised of nine jumping groups and one control group. The jumping groups use either a 4", 8", or 12" step, and jump off of it either 10, 50, or 100 times, three times per week AT HOME for 9 months. Measures of bone density, bone strength, and bone turnover will help us to determine which jump height and jump number is most beneficial to bone in premenopausal women.

Want to volunteer? See if you qualify...