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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(12): 941-947
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038601
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of a 9-Week Physical Activity Programme on Bone and Body Composition of Children Aged 10 – 11 Years: An Exploratory Trial

N. McWhannell1 , J. L. Henaghan1 , L. Foweather1 , D. A. Doran1 , A. M. Batterham2 , T. Reilly1 , G. Stratton1
  • 1Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
  • 2School of Health, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
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Publication History

accepted after revision March 31, 2008

Publication Date:
29 May 2008 (online)

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Abstract

A high-impact exercise and a lifestyle intervention were implemented over a 9-week period; changes in bone and body composition were compared to controls. Sixty-one children volunteered from three randomly selected schools. Each school was randomly assigned to either a structured exercise (STEX) intervention, a lifestyle intervention (PASS) or control (CONT). Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of total body, femoral neck and lumbar spine were measured as well as fat and lean mass at baseline and post-intervention by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The STEX intervention resulted in an additional mean increase in total body BMC of 63.3 g (p = 0.019) and an additional increase of 0.011 g · cm−2 (p = 0.018) for BMD over increases observed by controls. Bone mineral increases observed for the PASS intervention were not significant compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Neither intervention produced significant increases in bone mineral at femoral neck or lumbar spine sites (p > 0.05) compared with the controls. No significant changes were found in fat mass index (p > 0.05), lean mass index (p > 0.05) or percent body fat (p = 0.09) in any groups. Structured impact exercise promoted significant and clinically relevant increases in bone measures, without significant changes to body composition. A larger, definitive randomised trial is needed to confirm the present results.

Key words

dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry - intervention - exercise

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Nicola McWhannell

Liverpool John Moores University
Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Henry Cotton Building, 15 – 21 Webster St.

L3 2ET Liverpool

United Kingdom

Phone: + 44 15 12 31 44 36

Fax: + 44 15 12 31 43 53

Email: N.J.McWhannell@2003.ljmu.ac.uk