Effects of Leisure-Time Physical Activity on Vertebral Dimensions in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.
Vertebral fractures are a common burden amongst elderly and late middle aged people. Vertebral cross-sectional area (CSA) is a major determinant of vertebral strength and thus associated with vertebral fracture risk. Previous studies suggest that physical activity affects vertebral CSA. We aimed to investigate the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) from adolescence to middle age and vertebral dimensions in adulthood. We utilized the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, of which 1188 subjects had records of LTPA at 14, 31 and 46 years, and had undergone lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the mean age of 47 years. Using MRI data, we measured eight dimensions of the L4 vertebra. Socioeconomic status, smoking habits, height and weight were also recorded at 14, 31 and 46 years. We obtained lifetime LTPA (14-46 years of age) trajectories using latent class analysis, which resulted in three categories (active, moderately active, inactive) in both genders. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the association between LTPA and vertebral CSA with adjustments for vertebral height, BMI, socioeconomic status and smoking. High lifetime LTPA was associated with larger vertebral CSA in women but not men. Further research is needed to investigate the factors behind the observed gender-related differences.
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Petteri
P
Oura
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Markus
M
Paananen
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Research Unit of Medical Imaging, Physics and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Jaakko
J
Niinimäki
LIKES-Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Tuija
T
Tammelin
Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Sauli
S
Herrala
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Juha
J
Auvinen
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland.
Raija
R
Korpelainen
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland'
Juho-Antti
JA
Junno
Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Center for Life Course Health Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.|Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland.
Jaro
J
Karppinen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008019:Life Style; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires