Role of physical activity in the development of skeletal mass in children

Abstract

A group of 118 children, aged 5.3-14 years, were enrolled in a prospective study of calcium supplementation and bone mass. At entry to the study, questionnaires regarding the child's usual physical activity were administered to the children and their mothers. Repeated activity assessments at 6 month intervals indicated good within-person agreement for total activity and for most individual activities. Consistent positive associations were observed between bone mineral densities (BMD) in the radius, spine, and hip and most activities. A summary measure (total hours of weight-bearing activity) was significantly related to BMD in the radius and hip, independently of age or gender effects. Self-reported sports and play activities were associated with BMD, but neither time spent watching television nor hours of physical education classes were associated either positively or negatively with skeletal mass. These data suggest that important increments in skeletal mass may result from physical activity during childhood.

Higher premenarcheal bone mass in elite gymnasts is maintained into young adulthood after long-term retirement from sport: A 14-year follow-up

“…(1)(2)(3) Furthermore, there is recent evidence to support a continued benefit of childhood habitual physical activity on bone parameters into young adulthood. (4) It appears that the skeleton responds to systematic impact-loading activity in childhood and adolescence by increasing bone mineral accrual.…”

The role of exercise intensity in the bone metabolic response to an acute bout of weight-bearing exercise

“…The increase in OPG was not influenced by exercise intensity, whereas PTH was increased at 75% V O2max only, which cannot be fully explained by changes in serum calcium or PO 4 concentrations. treadmill running; bone turnover markers; osteoprotegerin; parathyroid hormone EXERCISE is associated with improvements in bone mineral density (BMD), particularly at load-bearing sites (9,11,22,60), and might play a role in reducing fragility fractures associated with osteoporosis (19, 24), either by increasing the accumulation of bone mass during childhood growth (9, 68) or by decreasing the rate of bone loss following the attainment of peak bone mass (37,60). Despite this, the specific mechanisms by which exercise exerts its effects on bone remain to be fully determined, as does the most effective form of exercise to increase BMD.…”

Towards in silico prognosis using big data

“…Blood was collected on the same date of clinical visit for the measurement of serum bone metabolic markers with standard protocols conducted by the University Pathology Unit. Physical activity was assessed by a standardised quantitative questionnaire adapted from Slemenda et al [5]. The amount of weight bearing activity is expressed as number of hours per day.…”