Low physical activity is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture—a 2-year prospective study in children

• Summary: The study investigates the effect of physical activity (PA) on a composite score for fracture risk in pre-pubertal children. Low PA in children is related to the composite score for fracture risk and the pre-pubertal years seem to be a period when PA positively affects the score. Introduction: This study evaluates if PA in children is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture. Research questions are the following: (i) What is the effect of physical activity (PA) on single traits and a composite score for fracture risk? (ii) Could this score be used to identify the level of PA needed to reach beneficial effects? Methods: This prospective population-based study included 269 children, aged 7–9 years at baseline while 246 attended the 2-year follow-up. We estimated duration of PA by questionnaires and measured traits that independently predict fractures. We then calculated gender specific Z-scores for each variable. The mean Z-score of all traits was used as a composite score for fracture risk. We tested correlation between duration of PA, each trait, and the composite score and group differences between children in different quartiles of PA. Results: At baseline, we found no correlation between duration of PA and any of the traits or the composite score. At follow-up, we found a correlation between PA and the composite score. Physical activity had an effect on composite score, and children in the lowest quartiles of PA had unbeneficial composite score compared to children in the other quartiles. Conclusion: Low PA in children is related to clustering of risk factors for fracture, and the pre-pubertal years seem to be a period when PA positively affects the composite score.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

BMC

Bone mineral content

Bone quality

Bone size

Boys

Children

Exercise

Fracture

Girls

Lean mass

Muscle strength

Neuromuscular function

Physical activity

Risk factors

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)