Skeletal Response To Exercise
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HRpQCT) To Better Understand The Skeletal Response To Exercise
IRAS ID
162148
Contact name
Amaka Offiah
Contact email
Research summary
Peak bone mass (PBM) attained during childhood and adolescence predicts the risk of osteoporosis in adult life. By the age of 18 years, at least 90% of PBM has been accrued and is dependent on genetic, hormonal, lifestyle and environmental factors. One important lifestyle factor is exercise.
Loading (e.g. weight lifting or racket sports) is anabolic, causing growth not just of the muscles but also of the bones. The response is site specific – i.e. although there is overall benefit to fitness and health, it is the right arm muscles and bones of a right-handed tennis player and not the left that grow the most in response to the repetitive hitting of a tennis ball. Conversely if the skeleton is not used (e.g. if in a plaster cast) then both the muscles and the bones waste away.
The response depends on how the loads are applied (through exercise). The higher the load and the faster it is applied the greater the bone’s response. Furthermore animal studies suggest that rest periods of up to 10seconds increase the response compared to continuous periods of exercise.
High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) uses low dose x-rays to take very detailed images of the bones of the wrist and/or ankle. This allows a thorough analysis of bone structure without biopsy or surgery.
The question we seek to answer is whether HRpQCT is able to detect changes in bone structure as a result of relatively short term but intense exercise. If so then we will conduct larger studies to determine the effect of different types of exercise and rate and direction of loading on the skeleton.
Our ultimate aim is to develop exercise regimes to optimise bone accrual in children and adolescents thereby minimising the risk of osteoporosis in later life.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/1155
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion