title: Physical activity in childhood may be the key to optimizing lifespan skeletal health.
abstract: Physical activities undertaken in childhood, particularly activities, which apply large forces quickly convey optimal benefits to bone mass, size, and structure. Evidence is accumulating that benefits persist well beyond activity cessation. This review examines the potential for early childhood activity to improve bone mineralization and structure and explores childhood activity as prevention for osteoporosis in later life.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, College of Public Health and Human Sciences Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA. Kathy.gunter@oregonstate.edu
authors.forename: Katherine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Gunter
authors.forename: Hawley C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Almstedt
authors.forename: Kathleen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Janz
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011627:Puberty; D055070:Resistance Training