Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Physical activity is the strongest predictor of calcaneal peak bone mass in young Swedish men

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Osteoporosis International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Summary

In a highly representative sample of young adult Swedish men (n = 2,384), we demonstrate that physical activity during childhood and adolescence was the strongest predictor of calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD), and that peak bone mass was reached at this site at the age of 18 years.

Introduction

The purpose of the present study was to determine if physical activity during growth is associated with peak calcaneal BMD in a large, highly representative cohort of young Swedish men.

Methods

In this study, 2,384 men, 18.3 ± 0.3 (mean ± SD) years old, were included from a population attending the mandatory tests for selection to compulsory military service in Sweden. BMD (g/cm2) of the calcaneus was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Training habits were investigated using a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Regression analysis (with age, height, weight, smoking, and calcium intake as covariates) demonstrated that history of regular physical activity was the strongest predictor and could explain 10.1% of the variation in BMD (standardized β = 0.31, p < 0.001). A regression model with quadratic age effect revealed maximum BMD at 18.4 years.

Conclusions

We found that history of physical activity during growth was the strongest predictor of peak calcaneal BMD in young men.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Genant HK, Cooper C, Poor G et al (1999) Interim report and recommendations of the World Health Organization task-force for osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 10:259–264

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nguyen TV, Eisman JA (2000) Genetics of fracture: challenges and opportunities. J Bone Miner Res 15:1253–1256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Johansson C, Black D, Johnell O et al (1998) Bone mineral density is a predictor of survival. Calcif Tissue Int 63:190–196

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Browner WS, Seeley DG, Vogt TM et al (1991) Non-trauma mortality in elderly women with low bone mineral density. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Lancet 338:355–358

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kanis JA (1994) Assessment of fracture risk and its application to screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis: synopsis of a WHO report. Osteoporos Int 4:368–381

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Hui SL, Slemenda CW, Johnston CC Jr (1990) The contribution of bone loss to postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int 1:30–34

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kelly PJ, Morrison NA, Sambrook PN et al (1995) Genetic influences on bone turnover, bone density and fracture. Eur J Endocrinol 133:265–271

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rizzoli R, Bonjour JP, Ferrari SL (2001) Osteoporosis, genetics and hormones. J Mol Endocrinol 26:79–94

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Giguere Y, Rousseau F (2000) The genetics of osteoporosis: ‘complexities and difficulties’. Clin Genet 57:161–169

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pocock NA, Eisman JA, Hopper JL et al (1987) Genetic determinants of bone mass in adults. A twin study. J Clin Invest 80:706–710

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chilibeck PD, Sale DG, Webber CE (1995) Exercise and bone mineral density. Sports Med 19:103–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kannus P, Haapasalo H, Sankelo M et al (1995) Effect of starting age of physical activity on bone mass in the dominant arm of tennis and squash players. Ann Intern Med 123:27–31

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Welten DC, Kemper HC, Post GB et al (1994) Weight-bearing activity during youth is a more important factor for peak bone mass than calcium intake. J Bone Miner Res 9:1089–1096

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Bass S, Pearce G, Bradney M et al (1998) Exercise before puberty may confer residual benefits in bone density in adulthood: studies in active prepubertal and retired female gymnasts. J Bone Miner Res 13:500–507

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lorentzon M, Mellstrom D, Ohlsson C (2005) Association of amount of physical activity with cortical bone size and trabecular volumetric BMD in young adult men: the GOOD study. J Bone Miner Res 20:1936–1943

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. MacKelvie KJ, Khan KM, McKay HA (2002) Is there a critical period for bone response to weight-bearing exercise in children and adolescents? A systematic review. Br J Sports Med 36:250–257

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Tobias JH, Steer CD, Mattocks CG et al (2007) Habitual levels of physical activity influence bone mass in 11-year-old children from the United Kingdom: findings from a large population-based cohort. J Bone Miner Res 22:101–109

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bradney M, Pearce G, Naughton G et al (1998) Moderate exercise during growth in prepubertal boys: changes in bone mass, size, volumetric density, and bone strength: a controlled prospective study. J Bone Miner Res 13:1814–1821

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lorentzon M, Mellstrom D, Ohlsson C (2005) Age of attainment of peak bone mass is site specific in Swedish men—the GOOD study. J Bone Miner Res 20:1223–1227

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bonjour JP, Theintz G, Law F et al (1994) Peak bone mass. Osteoporos Int 4(Suppl 1):7–13

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Slosman DO, Rizzoli R, Pichard C et al (1994) Longitudinal measurement of regional and whole body bone mass in young healthy adults. Osteoporos Int 4:185–190

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Vogel JM (1988) The clinical relevance of calcaneus bone mineral measurements: a review. Bone Miner 5:35–58

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Kullenberg R, Falch JA (2003) Prevalence of osteoporosis using bone mineral measurements at the calcaneus by dual X-ray and laser (DXL). Osteoporos Int 14:823

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Cummings SR, Nevitt MC, Browner WS et al (1995) Risk factors for hip fracture in white women. Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. N Engl J Med 332:767–773

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Cummings SR, Black DM, Nevitt MC et al (1993) Bone density at various sites for prediction of hip fractures. The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures Research Group. Lancet 341:72–75

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Marshall D, Johnell O, Wedel H (1996) Meta-analysis of how well measures of bone mineral density predict occurrence of osteoporotic fractures. BMJ 312:1254–1259

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Miller PD, Siris ES, Barrett-Connor E et al (2002) Prediction of fracture risk in postmenopausal white women with peripheral bone densitometry: evidence from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment. J Bone Miner Res 17:2222–2230

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Neville CE, Murray LJ, Boreham CA et al (2002) Relationship between physical activity and bone mineral status in young adults: the Northern Ireland Young Hearts Project. Bone 30:792–798

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Groothausen J, Siemer H, Kemper HCG et al (1997) Influence of peak strain on lumbar bone mineral density: an analysis of 15 year physical activity in young males and females. Pediatr Exerc Sci 9:159–173

    Google Scholar 

  30. Daly RM, Bass SL (2006) Lifetime sport and leisure activity participation is associated with greater bone size, quality and strength in older men. Osteoporos Int 17:1258–1267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bonjour JP, Theintz G, Buchs B et al (1991) Critical years and stages of puberty for spinal and femoral bone mass accumulation during adolescence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 73:555–563

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Theintz G, Buchs B, Rizzoli R et al (1992) Longitudinal monitoring of bone mass accumulation in healthy adolescents: evidence for a marked reduction after 16 years of age at the levels of lumbar spine and femoral neck in female subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 75:1060–1065

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Fredericson M, Chew K, Ngo J et al (2007) Regional bone mineral density in male athletes: a comparison of soccer players, runners and controls. Br J Sports Med 41:664–668

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA (2005) Hormonal responses and adaptations to resistance exercise and training. Sports Med 35:339–361

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. de Klerk G, van der Velde D, van der Palen J et al (2009) The usefulness of dual energy X-ray and laser absorptiometry of the calcaneus versus dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of hip and spine in diagnosing manifest osteoporosis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 129:251–257

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Gonnelli S, Cepollaro C, Gennari L et al (2005) Quantitative ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the prediction of fragility fracture in men. Osteoporos Int 16:963–968

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Jones G, Boon P (2008) Which bone mass measures discriminate adolescents who have fractured from those who have not? Osteoporos Int 19:251–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Blair SN, Dowda M, Pate RR et al (1991) Reliability of long-term recall of participation in physical activity by middle-aged men and women. Am J Epidemiol 133:266–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Falkner KL, Trevisan M, McCann SE (1999) Reliability of recall of physical activity in the distant past. Am J Epidemiol 150:195–205

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Slattery ML, Jacobs DR Jr (1995) Assessment of ability to recall physical activity of several years ago. Ann Epidemiol 5:292–296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Bass SL, Saxon L, Daly RM et al (2002) The effect of mechanical loading on the size and shape of bone in pre-, peri-, and postpubertal girls: a study in tennis players. J Bone Miner Res 17:2274–2280

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Specker B, Binkley T, Fahrenwald N (2004) Increased periosteal circumference remains present 12 months after an exercise intervention in preschool children. Bone 35:1383–1388

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Nilsson M, Ohlsson C, Mellstrom D et al (2009) Previous sport activity during childhood and adolescence is associated with increased cortical bone size in young adult men. J Bone Miner Res 24:125–133

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Hasselstrom H, Karlsson KM, Hansen SE et al (2007) Peripheral bone mineral density and different intensities of physical activity in children 6–8 years old: the Copenhagen School Child Intervention study. Calcif Tissue Int 80:31–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Medicine Unit, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    U. Pettersson

  2. Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neuroscience, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    U. Pettersson

  3. Center for Bone Research at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    M. Nilsson, D. Mellström & M. Lorentzon

  4. Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    V. Sundh & D. Mellström

  5. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gröna Stråket 8, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden

    M. Lorentzon

Authors
  1. U. Pettersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. Sundh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Mellström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Lorentzon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Lorentzon.

Additional information

U. Pettersson and M. Nilsson contributed equally to this work.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pettersson, U., Nilsson, M., Sundh, V. et al. Physical activity is the strongest predictor of calcaneal peak bone mass in young Swedish men. Osteoporos Int 21, 447–455 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-0982-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-009-0982-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation