A modern study demonstrated that p...

A modern study demonstrated that physical exercise during childhood and adolescence increases bone mineral ease and enhances peak bone mass. These positive changes in bone during the early developmental years may shape the risk of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures later in life. The increased bone mineral ease and bone mass appear to be greater in children and adolescents who participate in high-impact sports in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as gymnastics; a lesser increase come abouts among those involved in low-impact sports so as swimming. All of the studies that evaluated bone mass in young female athletes have used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans. DEXA scans highly correlate with bone solidity but cannot assess bone elasticity, internal architecture, or geometry In addition, DEXA scans are highly influenced by the agency of body size. Quantitative ultrasonography has been bring to maturityed to assess bone properties through using speed-of-sound values. The ultrasound technique is faster, les expensive, and does not involve any radiation outlook compared with the DEXA scan. Falk and associates used qualitative ultrasonography to assess bone properties in prepubertal and early-pubertal female athletes engaged in impact and nonimpact sports.

The participants were healthy girls recruited from local health cudgels To qualify as an athlete, each girl had to participate in year-round training for at least 18 month Participants included acrobatic gymnasts, swimmers, and a govern group. Control patients were girls in the same age assemblage who did not participate in regular physical activity more than pair times per week. Participants had to be classified as sexual unfolding pubertal stage (stage 1 or 2) based forward their self-reported pubic hair pattern. Medical history information and dietary assessments were performed during the inquiry In addition, body weight, height, and skinfold thickness were measured. Quantitative ultrasound speed-of-sound measurements were performed at the distal the same third of the radius and the midshaft of the tibia. Dominant and nondominant sides were recorded based upon which hand the participant used to write.

meditation participants included 25 gymnasts, 21 swimmers, and 21 repress subjects. The gymnasts were significantly shorter and lighter than swimmers and manage subjects, but their body mass indexes were similar to those of the swimmers. The quantitative ultrasound speed-of-sound measurements were not affected by dint of body size. The gymnasts had higher radial speed-of-sound values in their nondominant arm than did the swimmers or the girls in the ascendency group. Tibial values were similar in the gymnasts and swimmers, and were significantly higher than those in the rule group. There was no difference within the clumps between dominant and nondominant speed-of-sound values.

The authors finish that high-impact and nonimpact physical exercise improve bone properties in prepubertal and early-pubertal females. The higher values of tibial measurements in the swimmers refer to that sports that require high muscle strain forward a bone may improve bone properties in young athletes. These activities may restore the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life and decrease fracture potential as these someones age.

Falk B et al. Quantitative ultrasound of the tibia and radius in prepubertal and early-pubertal female athletes. Arch Pediatr Adolesc M February 2003;157:139-43

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

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