Study Overview
The ASBMR 2024 Annual Meeting study investigated the relationship between cumulative physical activity (PA) during growth and bone microarchitecture at peak bone mass (PBM). A team from the University of Calgary, including Annelise Pageau, Lauren A. Burt, Leigh Gabel, Steven K. Boyd, and Danielle Whittier, conducted the research.
Key Findings
Participants and Methodology
- The study included 226 young adults (142 females and 84 males) aged 18-35 from the Calgary Normative Cohort.
- Researchers used dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of the hip and spine and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans of the distal tibia and radius.
- Physical activity history was captured using the bone-specific physical activity questionnaire (BPAQ).
Results
- Overall Impact: Higher levels of physical activity during growth were associated with more favourable trabecular bone microarchitecture and failure load at peak bone mass.
- Sex-Specific Findings:
- In females, higher growth-BPAQ scores correlated with favourable trabecular properties, including trabecular BMD and bone volume fraction at both sites.
- Stronger associations were observed for trabecular properties in males than in females, with additional correlations found in trabecular separation, number, and heterogeneity.
- Typical Findings: Both sexes showed consistent correlations between higher growth-BPAQ scores and:
- Cortical Bone: No relationship was found between physical activity during growth and cortical bone properties attained at peak bone mass.
Implications
The study provides refined insight into the impact of physical activity during growth on bone microarchitecture and mechanical properties attained in adulthood. These findings underscore the importance of physical activity during childhood and adolescence for developing favourable bone properties, which may have implications for long-term bone health and osteoporosis risk.
