Gains in hip bone mass from high-impact training are maintained: A randomized controlled trial in children

doi:10.1067/mpd.2002.127275

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 141, Issue 3, September 2002, Pages 357-362

https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2002.127275 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objectives: We previously reported significant gains in hip and spine bone mass after 7 months of high-impact training in 89 prepubertal children. Our aim in this investigation was to evaluate the bone response to 7 months of "detraining" in this cohort of children. Study design: Seventy-four boys and girls (n = 37 jumpers, n = 37 controls) from the original cohort completed follow-up testing. Bone mineral content (BMC; g) and bone area (BA; cm²) of the left proximal femoral neck and lumbar spine (L_1-4) were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. In addition, anthropometric characteristics, Tanner staging, physical activity, and average dietary calcium intake were assessed. Results: Over 14 months, jumpers maintained 4% greater femoral neck BMC and 4% greater femoral neck BA (P <.05 and P <.01, respectively) than controls. Group differences did not persist at the lumbar spine. Conclusion: Gains in both BMC and BA at the femoral neck from high-impact jumping were retained after an equivalent period of detraining. We conclude that this simple exercise may be useful in promoting bone growth at the hip and, thus, enhance peak bone mass. (J Pediatr 2002;141:357-62)

Section snippets

Participants and study design

From the original cohort of 89 children, 74 returned for follow-up testing, including 37 jumpers (21 boys, 16 girls) and 37 controls (23 boys, 14 girls). Fifteen did not return for follow-up testing because of time constraints (n = 8), parental concern for additional radiographic exposure (n = 2), disinterest in testing (n = 2), or because they moved (n = 3). No children in the current study were excluded based on the exclusion criteria previously reported.⁷ Racial categories include 73 white

Subject characteristics

Jumpers and controls had similar gains in height, weight, and body fat over 14 months (Table I).

. Baseline, postintervention, and postdetraining anthropometric characteristics by group

Empty Cell	Jumpers (n = 37)	Controls (n = 37)
Age (y)
Baseline	7.56 ± 0.17	7.60 ± 0.19
Postintervention	8.15 ± 0.18	8.19 ± 0.19
Postdetraining	8.83 ± 0.18	8.87 ± 0.19
Height (cm)
Baseline	125.1 ± 1.3	126.3 ± 1.3
Postintervention	128.8 ± 1.3	129.5 ± 1.3
Postdetraining	132.7 ± 1.2	133.8 ± 1.3
Weight (kg)
Baseline	26.9 ± 0.8	27.2 ± 1.2
Postintervention

Discussion

We report that, at the hip, significant gains in both femoral neck BMC and BA from a 7-month high-impact loading intervention were retained after an equivalent period of detraining. Specifically, after 7 months of detraining, jumpers maintained 4% greater BMC and 4% greater BA at the femoral neck than controls. By contrast, at the spine, the gain in BMC from the intervention was not retained after an equivalent period of detraining.

This study has several strengths. First, the detraining period

Acknowledgements

We thank all of the parents, children, and Mt View Elementary School, who graciously volunteered to participate in this study.

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^☆: Supported by National Institutes of Health grant No. RO1 AR45655-01, Division of National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

^☆☆: Reprint requests: Christine Snow, PhD, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3303.

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Original ArticlesGains in hip bone mass from high-impact training are maintained: A randomized controlled trial in children☆,☆☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Participants and study design

Subject characteristics

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Trends Endocrinol Metab

J Pediatr

J Am Diet Assoc

Bone Miner

Bone

Osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and therapy

JAMA

Osteoporosis in children and adolescents: diagnosis, risk factors, and prevention

J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab

Physical activity and health: a report of the Surgeon General

Effect of starting age of physical activity on bone mass in the dominant arm of tennis and squash players

Ann Intern Med

Role of physical activity in the development of skeletal mass in children

J Bone Miner Res

Jumping improves hip and spine bone mass in pre-pubescent boys and girls: a randomized controlled trial

J Bone Miner Res

A randomized school-based jumping intervention confers site- and maturity-specific benefits on bone structural properties in girls: a hip structural analysis atudy

J Bone Miner Res

Defining the window of opportunity: a school-based loading intervention augments bone mineral accrual in early-, but not pre-, pubertal girls

J Pediatr

Detraining reverses positive effects of exercise on the musculoskeletal system in premenopausal women

J Bone Miner Res

Original Articles
Gains in hip bone mass from high-impact training are maintained: A randomized controlled trial in children☆,☆☆