Healthy bones study
Do bone accrual benefits gained during a childhood exercise program
persist when the exercise stimulus is withdrawn?
Project Goals - What are we doing?
We have previously identified early puberty as a key time when a targeted exercise program promotes bone mineral accrual. However, it is unknown whether skeletal gains with exercise during the growing years can be maintained as published exercise intervention studies have not reported any post-study follow up.Research Outcomes - What will be achieved?
Our aim is to assess whether the bone mass and strength benefits we reported following an 8- and 20-month program of physical activity are maintained following withdrawal of the intervention. We will compare longitudinal changes in bone strength and structure between those children in the intervention program and controls using novel technologies (peripheral Quantitative Computer Tomography- pQCT) in this cohort of growing children, We will explore the relationship of bone mass and bone strength development within and between individuals from the two treatment groups, whilst at the same time controlling for the confounding effects of growth
Background - Why is this research important?
Osteoporotic fractures cause major personal and economic burdens in the developed world. Attaining an optimal peak bone mass during childhood and adolescence reduces the risk of osteoporosis when bone is inevitably lost in later life. Outcomes serve to guide the delivery of effective physical activity models within schools to benefit bone health in all children.Participate
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