Physical activity increases bone mass during growth.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of fragility fractures has increased during the last half of the 1990's. One important determinant of fractures is the bone mineral content (BMC) or bone mineral density (BMD), the amount of mineralised bone. If we could increase peak bone mass (the highest value of BMC reached during life) and/or decrease the age-related bone loss, we could possibly improve the skeletal resistance to fracture.


OBJECTIVE
This review evaluates the importance of exercise as a strategy to improve peak bone mass, including some aspects of nutrition.


METHODS
PUBLICATIONS WITHIN THE FIELD WERE SEARCHED THROUGH MEDLINE (PUBMED) USING THE SEARCH WORDS: exercise, physical activity, bone mass, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, BMC, BMD, skeletal structure and nutrition. We included studies dealing with exercise during growth and young adolescence. We preferably based our inferences on randomised controlled trials (RCT), which provide the highest level of evidence.


RESULTS
Exercise during growth increases peak bone mass. Moderate intensity exercise intervention programs are beneficial for the skeletal development during growth. Adequate nutrition must accompany the exercise to achieve the most beneficial skeletal effects by exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise during growth seems to enhance the building of a stronger skeleton through a higher peak bone mass and a larger bone size.
Karlsson
Magnus K
MK
Clinical and Osteoporosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences and Department of Orthopaedics, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
Nordqvist
Anders
A
Karlsson
Caroline
C