Don’t put away those basketball shoes just yet. Participating in high-impact sports like basketball and running may lead to stronger bones as people age, according to a study which was presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the
Measurements taken for Senior Olympic Game athletes who were included in the study showed that the bone mineral density (BMD) for those who participated in impact sports was significantly greater than for athletes who competed in low-impact sports like swimming and cycling.
“While we know that exercise is vital as we get older, this study finds that the kind of exercise we choose can be just as important,” said Vonda Wright, M.D., lead author and assistant professor in the department of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The findings show that a key to maintaining strong, healthy bones as we age is to engage in impact sports,” added Dr. Wright, who is an orthopedic surgeon at the
The study evaluated 298 athletes competing in the 2005 Senior Olympic Games in
“The costs associated with caring for people with osteoporosis and fractures caused by frail bones are rising as the population ages,” Dr. Wright concluded. “Our study implies that persistent participation in impact sports can positively influence bone health even in the oldest athletes.”
Note: Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss affecting 28 million Americans and contributing to an estimated 1.5 million bone fractures per year. One in two women and one in five men over age 65 will sustain bone fractures due to osteoporosis.
By Teresa K. Flatley
9/07
Photo from The Alburquerque Tribune