Physical activity increases bone size in prepubertal boys and bone mass in prepubertal girls : a combined cross-sectional and 3-year longitudinal study
This study evaluates the effect on the skeleton of physical activity from age 9 to 16. In 42 girls and 44 boys, bone mass and bone size were evaluated longitudinally by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) from ages 13 to 16. Physical activity from ages 9 to 13 was cross-sectionally evaluated at baseline (age 13). Girls with high physical activity from ages 9 to 13 at baseline had higher femoral