The Impact Of Sports Participation On Skeletal Health And Bone Density In Peadriatics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i9S.7786Keywords:
Pediatric, skeletal health, sports, bone densityAbstract
Background: Childhood bone health determines long-term skeletal integrity. Mechanical loading at sports activities enhances bone remodeling and mineralization. Activities like running, gymnastics and basketball where weight is applied on bones lead to an increase in bone density as opposed to non-weight bearing exercises. Individuals who start being physically active at early ages are at a better position of developing peak bone mass, which lowers the risks of contracting osteoporosis and related fractures in later years.
Objectives: To assess the influence of regular involvement in sports activity on bone mineral density and health of the skeleton in children and adolescents, and determine the correlation with age, sport orientation, and duration of training.
Study design: A cross sectional study.
Place and duration of study Department Of Orthopedic DHQ Hospital Mishti Maila Orakzai KPK Pakistan From April 2024 To September 2024
Methods: This cross-sectional study Conducted in Department of orthopedic Department Of Orthopedic DHQ Hospital Mishti Maila Orakzai Kpk Pakistan From April 2024 To September 2024.120 children (8 to 16 years old) representing athletes and non-athletes. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the lumbar spine and the femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Type, frequency and duration of physical activity was noted. Parametric statistical tests such as t-tests and ANOVA were performed to determine the difference between the groups, where p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: 120 patients (60 athletes and 60 non-athletes). The average age was 12.4 years (SD = 2.1). BMD was much more developed in the lumbar spine and the femur neck among athletes. Lumbar spine BMD averaged 1.02 g/cm 2 in athletes vs. 0.91 g/cm 2 in non-athletes ( p = 0.004). Training interval and intensity were better correlated with Bone mass ( p < 0.01). There were no meaningful differences in BMD in accordance with gender, alone, but males overall had a slightly higher value.
Conclusion: Engagement in sports by children improves the bone mineral density greatly particularly, weight-bearing sports. Early exposure to organized physical activity has been linked to better skeletal health which is expected to mean lowered fracture risks later in life. Routine health measures should focus on promoting a pediatric sports program to help optimize peak bone mass development.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Praia P, Amato A, Dried P, Korovljev D, Vast S, Baldassano S. The impact of diet and physical activity on bone health in children and adolescents. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2021 Sep 13; 12:704647.
Mello JB, Paretic A, García-Hermoso A, Martins CM, Gaya AR, Duncan MJ, Gaya AC. Exercise in school Physical Education increase bone mineral content and density: systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Sport Science. 2022 Oct 3;22(10):1618-29.
de Lima Mesquite ED, Experian IN, Agostinete RR, Luis-de-Marco R, ad Silva JC, Maillane-Vanegas S, Kemper HC, Fernandez RA. The combined relationship of vitamin D and weight-bearing sports participation on a real bone density and geometry among adolescents: ABCD-growth study. Journal of Clinical Densitometry. 2022 Oct 1; 25(4):674-81.
Gheitasi M, IMERYS B, Khalid A, Mozafaripour E. The effect of professional sports participation on bone content and density in elite female athletes. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022 Jun 1; 13(2).
Agostinete RR, Warnock AO, Maillane-Vanegas S, Garcia-Marco L, Ubago-Guisado E, Constable AM, Fernandez RA, Vlachopoulos D. The mediating role of lean soft tissue in the relationship between somatic maturation and bone density in adolescent practitioners and non-practitioners of sports. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Mar 15; 18(6):3008.
Devulapalli CS. Physical activity and vitamin D in children: a review of impacts on bone health and fitness. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2025 Mar 4(0).
Faenza MF, Urbane F, Chariot M, Lasiandra G, Giordano P. Musculoskeletal health in children and adolescents. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2023 Dec 15; 11:1226524.
Samos D, Craver V, Santos MP, Camoes M, Piers B, Ramos E. The effect of impact exercise on bone mineral density: A longitudinal study on non-athlete adolescents. Bone. 2021 Dec 1; 153:116151.
Patel H, Woods L, Teasdale-Spittle P, Dennison E. A cross-sectional study of the relationship between recreational sporting activity and calcaneal bone density in adolescents and young adults. The Physician and Sports medicine. 2022 May 4;50(3):218-26.
Kim MJ, Jillian H, Rachael T, Debra W, Sean H, Sandy R, Richie P. Is repeated childhood fracture related to a real bone density or body composition in middle age? Osteoporosis International. 2022 Nov; 33(11):2369-79.
Armando A, Heron emus M, Truong D, Swanson C. Bone health in young athletes: a narrative review of the recent literature. Current osteoporosis reports. 2023 Aug; 21(4):447-58.
Sarnia BT, Agostinete RR, Ferias Junior IF, de Sousa DE, Gobo LA, Tear WR, Christ faro DG. Association between handgrip strength and bone mineral density of Brazilian children and adolescents stratified by sex: a cross-sectional study. BMC pediatrics. 2021 Apr 28; 21(1):207.
Retune R, Redman AM, Mukwasi-Kahari C, Madanhire T, Kowo-Nyakoko F, McHugh G, Filet S, Cipango J, Simms V, Majuro H, Ward KA. Effect of HIV infection on growth and bone density in per pubertal children in the era of antiretroviral therapy: a cross-sectional study in Zimbabwe. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. 2021 Aug 1; 5(8):569-81.
Burt LA, Groves EM, Quip K, Boyd SK. Bone density, micro architecture and strength in elite figure skaters is discipline dependent. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2022 Feb 1; 25(2):173-7.
Moreau NG, Friel KM, Fuchs RK, Dayanidhi S, Skull-Moulton T, Grant-Butler M, Peterson MD, Stevenson RD, Duff SV. Lifelong fitness in ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy I: Key ingredients for bone and muscle health. Behavioral Sciences. 2023 Jun 28; 13(7):539.
Constable AM, Vlachopoulos D, Barker AR, Moore SA, Sonnies S, Chapala EA, Vista J, Westgate K, Barge S, Mahoney A, Lake TA. The independent and interactive associations of physical activity intensity and vitamin D status with bone mineral density in prepubertal children: the PANIC Study. Osteoporosis International. 2021 Aug 1:1-2.
Weeks BK, Harding AT, Watson SL, Lambert C, Nigeria RC, Hirsch R, Rantalainen T, Collier J, Beck BR. Bone-specific physical activity questionnaire-derived skeletal loading score predicts bone geometry, density, and strength indices: a cross-sectional study. Journal of bone and mineral metabolism. 2023 Jul; 41(4):492-500.
Maillane-Vanegas S, Luis-de-Marco R, Narcissi PH, da Silva Faustino-ad YV, Kemper H, Agostinete RR, Fernandez RA. More than sports participation: The role of ground reaction force, osteocalcin and lean soft tissue on bone density accrual in adolescents: ABCD growth study. Journal of Clinical Densitometry. 2022 Jan 1; 25(1):61-72.
Larsen MN, Terracing A, Miller TK, Aggestrup CS, Boone P, Krustrup P, Castagno C. An 11-week school-based “health education through football” programmed improves musculoskeletal variables in 10–12-yr-old Danish school children. Bone Reports. 2023 Jun 1; 18:101681.
Sigurdsson GV, Schmidt S, Maelstrom D, Olsson C, Carlson M, Lorentz on M, Salmon R. Physical exercise is associated with beneficial bone mineral density and body composition in young adults with childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2021 Jun 3; 56(6):699-707.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
