The research, in which the data of 2,569 participants in the study on the health of children of the 90s were analyzed, determined that the greater time spent doing physical activities of moderate to vigorous intensity after the age of 12 was associated with stronger hips at age 25, while time spent in light-intensity activities was less clearly associated with adult hip strength.
Peak bone mass occurs in young adulthood and is considered a marker of risk for fracture and osteoporosis in adulthood. Hip fractures constitute a large proportion of the disease burden of osteoporosis.
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The researchers looked at data from healthy individuals who had physical activity measured up to 4 times using accelerometers used as part of clinical assessments at the ages of 12, 14, 16 and 25 years. This is a device that measures a person’s movement for the entire time they are wearing it.
The researchers also found evidence to suggest that adolescent moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity was more important than in adulthood, and that early adolescence may be more important than late adolescence. We also found some evidence that higher-impact activity (consistent with jumping; assessed once in a subsample in late adolescence using a custom accelerometer) was related to stronger hips at the age of 25.
The unique availability of repeated accelerometer assessments over many years starting at age 12 within the 1990s Children cohort allowed us to describe the trajectory of time spent at different intensities of physical activity through early life and examine how this might be related to the strength of the adult hip.
“The results highlight adolescence as a potentially important period for bone development through high intensity exercise, which could benefit future bone health and prevent osteoporosis in later life. We have also confirmed other studies showing that levels of Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activities decrease throughout adolescence. Our findings show that it is really important to support young people to remain active at this age, “explains lead author Ahmed Elhakeem.
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