Exercise in childhood may reduce future fracture risk

People who exercise every day when children could enjoy a reduced risk of fragility fractures when they are adults, suggest a new study.

A team from Sweden assessed 362 girls and 446 boys aged 7 years to 9 years, who did 40 minutes of exercise every day at school. They followed them for 6 years and compared them to 780 girls and 807 boys who exercised for 60 minutes a week at school.

The rate of fractures during the study period was similar for both groups.  But the children who exercised daily had greater increases in spinal bone mineral density than the less active group.

The scientists then looked at data from 709 men (average age 70 years) who had been athletes and compared it with 1,368 non-former athletes. The athletes group showed smaller decreases in bone mass density as they aged, compared with the men who had not been athletes.

Researcher Dr Bjorn Rosengren who led the study says that exercise in childhood may be associated with a lower risk of fracture as people age “due to the increases in peak bone mass that occur in growing children who perform regular physical activity. Our study highlights yet another reason why kids need to get regular daily exercise to improve their health both now and in the future.”

A new trial is looking at how the risk of osteoporosis in later life is affected by bone growth of the foetus in the womb plus a healthy diet and exercise during a child’s early life.