Abstract
BackgroundVertebral size and especially cross-sectional area (CSA) are independently associated with vertebral fracture risk. Previous studies have suggested that physical activity and especially high-impact exercise may affect vertebral strength. We aimed to investigate the association between high-impact exercise at 31 and 46 years of age and vertebral dimensions in midlife.MethodsWe used a subsample of 1023 individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study with records of self-reported sports participation from 31 and 46 years and MRI-derived data on vertebral dimensions from 46 years. Based on the sports participation data, we constructed three impact categories (high, mixed, low) that represented longitudinal high-impact exercise activity in adulthood. We used linear regression and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to analyse the association between high-impact exercise and vertebral CSA, with adjustments for vertebral height and body mass index.ResultsParticipation in high-impact sports was associated with large vertebral CSA among women but not men. The women in the 'mixed' group had 36.8 (95% confidence interval 11.2–62.5) mm2 larger CSA and the women in the 'high' group 43.2 (15.2–71.1) mm2 larger CSA than the 'low' group.ConclusionsWe suggest that participation (≥ 1/week) in one or more high-impact sports in adulthood is associated with larger vertebral size, and thus increased vertebral strength, among middle-aged women.
Highlights
Vertebral size and especially cross-sectional area (CSA) are independently associated with vertebral fracture risk
We showed that lifelong leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was associated with larger vertebrae among women, but not among men [19]
Participation in one or more high-impact sports was reported by 43% of men and % of women at the age of 31, and by 37% of men and 29% of women at the age of 46 (Table 1)
Summary
Vertebral size and especially cross-sectional area (CSA) are independently associated with vertebral fracture risk. Previous studies have suggested that physical activity and especially high-impact exercise may affect vertebral strength. We aimed to investigate the association between high-impact exercise at 31 and 46 years of age and vertebral dimensions in midlife. Physical activity (PA) exposes bone tissue to biomechanical loading and affects bone density, shape and size according to exercise modality [5,6,7]. Mechanical stress is associated with increased cross-sectional area (CSA) and. It has been suggested that those who participate in high-impact exercise have increased BMD in most skeletal sites, including the lumbar spine [8, Oura et al BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders (2017) 18:433.
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