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Physical Activity and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, Page: 701-720
2001
  • 9
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 0
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    9
    • Citation Indexes
      9
      • CrossRef
        9

Book Chapter Description

This chapter examines the evidence that physical activity is beneficial to bone. It describes the response of normal bone tissue to mechanical loading and summarizes the effect of physical activity on the bones of men and women of all ages. To optimize strength without unduly increasing weight, bones accommodate the loads that are habitually imposed upon them by undergoing alterations in mass, external geometry, and internal micro-architecture. This phenomenon is referred to as Wolff's law. While a complete understanding of the method by which bone perceives and responds to mechanical stimuli is yet to be achieved, certain elements of the process are known. The manner by which bone responds to mechanical loading provides the basis for understanding the effect of physical activity on the skeleton. Loads applied to the skeleton are generally described in terms of stress and strain. Stress is the force applied per unit area to an object. Strain is a measure of deformation in response to the application of stress and can be calculated by dividing the change in an object's length by its original length. The influences of body mass, muscle strength, calcium supplementation, and hormone replacement therapy on this effect are also considered. Finally, the chapter discusses the implications of the effect of exercise on the skeleton for falling and risk of fracture, and presents some exercise therapy suggestions.

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