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Exercise in youth: High bone mass, large bone size, and low fracture risk in old age
Author(s) -
Tveit M.,
Rosengren B. E.,
Nilsson J. Å.,
Karlsson M. K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12305
Subject(s) - poisson regression , medicine , bone mineral , femoral neck , physical therapy , peak bone mass , fragility , osteoporosis , population , environmental health , chemistry
Physical activity is favorable for peak bone mass but if the skeletal benefits remain and influence fracture risk in old age is debated. In a cross‐sectional controlled mixed model design, we compared dual X ‐ray absorptiometry‐derived bone mineral density ( BMD ) and bone size in 193 active and retired male elite soccer players and 280 controls, with duplicate measurements of the same individual done a mean 5 years apart. To evaluate lifetime fractures, we used a retrospective controlled study design in 397 retired male elite soccer players and 1368 controls. Differences in bone traits were evaluated by S tudent's t ‐test and fracture risk assessments by P oisson regression and C ox regression. More than 30 years after retirement from sports, the soccer players had a Z ‐score for total body BMD of 0.4 (0.1 to 0.6), leg BMD of 0.5 (0.2 to 0.8), and femoral neck area of 0.3 (0.0 to 0.5). The rate ratio for fracture after career end was 0.6 (0.4 to 0.9) and for any fragility fracture 0.4 (0.2 to 0.9). Exercise‐associated bone trait benefits are found long term after retirement from sports together with a lower fracture risk. This indicates that physical activity in youth could reduce the burden of fragility fractures.