Newsletter

Make the Most of Your Bone Mass

Details

Created on 09-22-2009

Your bones grow most rapidly during adolescence, making this an essential time to strengthen bones through regular exercise. A new study shows that if you stop exercising or markedly reduce your physical activity after puberty, your bones will suffer the consequences. 

Researchers followed 142 healthy girls in Finland for seven years from early adolescence into adulthood—one third of the girls were gymnasts, one third were runners and one third exercised only in leisure time.  The girls regularly reported their physical activity level and calcium/vitamin D intake over the seven year period and received periodic bone density tests.  Based on what the girls reported, researchers divided them into three categories:

• girls who continued physical activity,
• girls who decreased physical activity, and
• girls who stopped physical activity.

Girls who decreased their physical activity by 50% or more lost a significant amount of bone density.  Studies among male athletes have shown similar results.

What can you take away from this study?  No matter your age or current physical activity, maintenance is the key to strong bones. Keep working your bones to help them stay strong. 

The complete study can be found at the following source:

Source:

Rautava E, Lehtonen-Veromaa M, Kautiainen H et al (2006). The reduction of physical activity reflects on the bone mass among young females: a follow up study of 142 adolescent girls. Osteoporosis Intl (2007) 18:915-922.