Childhood sports activity induces bone strength in young premenopausal women

抄録

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the beneficial effects of previous sports activity during growth on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-measured mineral content (BMC), bone area and areal bone mineral density (aBMD). We examined whether starting age of sports during childhood induces any changes in DXA-measured bone strength parameters. One hundred and eighteen young women were classified into three groups according to the starting age of sport; an elementary school group, a junior high school–college group and no participation or swimming. The elementary school group showed significantly greater DXA-measured total proximal femur bone area and BMC than no sports groups. However, the elementary school group did not show significantly greater aBMD in total proximal femur and lumbar spine. The junior high school-college group showed significantly greater total proximal femur aBMD than no sports group, while significantly smaller bone area than elementary school group.

Longer duration of past weight-bearing sports participation and higher impact sports activities are more effective for strengthening proximal femur. Weight-bearing exercise in youth affects bone, and the periods before and in early puberty may see sensitive adaptations in structure, shape and size in response to weight-bearing activities. These effects enlarge periosteal surfaces on cortical bone, and the benefits of sports activity during childhood remain, particularly in terms of bone geometry.