Posted on February 13, 2016
New research conducted at the University of Missouri concludes that men who engage in high-impact athletics and resistance training can build bone mass, contributing to reduced risk of osteoporosis. This benefit is in addition to the contribution of these activities to building muscle and reducing fat. The study reports that adolescent and young adult men who regularly engage in such activities as jogging and tennis developed greater hip and lumbar spine bone mineral density than individuals who did not. The effect is also durable, meaning that high-impact activity during growth and young adulthood is a key determinant for later life bone health. The study appears in the American Journal of Men’s Health.
Osteoporosis has typically been considered a concern for postmenopausal women, but Pamela Hinton, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences, commented “…research has shown that the consequences of osteoporosis can be much worse for men, as they are less likely to be diagnosed and are at a greater mortality risk from fractures that occur as a result of a fall.” She also observed a positive association between bone density and physical activity undertaken later in life. “So even middle-aged men who spent their teenage years sitting on the couch could see benefits from beginning a bone-strengthening exercise program.”
To access the painweek.org library of information about osteoporosis, click here.
Read a news story about the findings here.
The article abstract may be read here.