Strategies that enhance the acquisition of bone mass may be protective against @entity170 . @entity79 was compared in 20 artistic gymnasts (10 @entity1 ; 10 @entity1 ) and 20 untrained @entity1 ages 7-8 years. Higher regional values of @entity79 were observed in female gymnasts than untrained @entity1 . If retained to adulthood, this higher @entity79 may protect skeletal integrity in later life. Strategies that enhance the acquisition of bone mass in @entity1 may assist with the prevention of @entity170 . This study explored the effects of regular high-impact and weight-bearing activity before the age of 7 years on total and regional @entity79 ( @entity79 ). Twenty artistic gymnasts (10 @entity1 and 10 @entity1 ) and 20 untrained @entity1 , 7-8 years of age, were recruited. The untrained @entity1 were matched to gymnasts by sex, height, weight, and age. Female gymnasts trained 8-10 h per week and had trained regularly for 3-4 years. Male gymnasts trained 4-6 h per week and had trained for 1-2 years. Measurements of @entity79 were made using DXA for @entity79 ( @entity79 ); lumbar spine, both areal (aSBMD) and volumetric (vSBMD); total spine; pelvis; arms; and legs. Significant mean differences (8-10%) in aSBMD, vSBMD, arm @entity79 , and @entity79 were observed between female gymnasts and untrained @entity1 (p < 0.05: aSBMD, vSBMD, and @entity79 body mass (BM); p < 0.01: arm @entity79 ). A nonsignificant trend toward a higher @entity79 /BM and arm @entity79 was observed in male gymnasts compared with untrained @entity1 . Trends toward a higher @entity79 within the pelvis, legs, and total spine were also observed in gymnasts. There were no differences in total and regional @entity79 between untrained @entity1 and untrained @entity1 . The results suggest that gymnastics training before the age of 7 years enhances the acquisition of bone mass at selected skeletal sites. The magnitude of this enhancement seems to be linked to the cumulative volume of such training. If retained during adolescence and young adulthood, a surfeit of bone acquired through high-impact and weight-bearing activity in early childhood may protect skeletal integrity in later life.

Differences in bone density, body composition, physical activity, and diet between XXXX gymnasts and untrained @entity1 7-8 years of age.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'girls', 'boys'] @entity79 :: ('MESH:D001847', 'Disease') :: ['bone mineral density', 'total body BMD', 'TBBMD', 'BMD'] @entity170 :: ('MESH:D010024', 'Disease') :: ['osteoporosis']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['child']
