The KOMOtini BONE Study: Evaluation of the Osteogenic Potential of Sports

Summary

Bone mass develops throughout childhood and adolescence until a peak bone mass is achieved during early adulthood. Fracture risk later in life can be predicted at a large extent by peak bone mass. Occurence of sarcopenia and osteoporosis (i.e. loss of mone mass) during late adulthood has been strongly associated with the degree of bone mineralization during early life. Nearly 50% of total bone mineral content (BMC) reached during adulthood is obtained during pre-adolescence rendering this period critical for skeletal health and is considered as an optimal period for bone/skeletal growth since during this time bones are more adaptable to osteogenic stimuli such as exercise-induced mechanical loading. Organized sport activities and/or nutrition appear to affect profoundly bone mineral density (BMD), BMC, bone geometry, and overall skeletal health during preadolescence offering an effective type of prevention of osteoporosis, a condition very difficult to treat later in life. Evidence suggest that some modes of exercise activities may be more effective (osteogenic) for bone development due to the magnitude and type of mechanical strain placed on long bones causing them to be more dense. Weight-bearing activities (e.g. running, jumping etc.) are believed to be more osteogenic than non-weight bearing activities. However, more research is required in order to determine: i) whether weight-bearing activities are more osteogenic than non weight -bearing activities during childhood and ii) the osteogenic potential of a large number of sport activities used by school-children as compared to a control treatment of no participation in organized sport activities. The present trial attempted to compare a large number of different sport activities in respect to their osteogenic potential based on training variables that are thought to affect osteogenesis while at the same time allows direct comparison of exercise modes that are entirely different. Therefore, the goal of this investigation was to determine the osteogenic potential of a large number of exercise training activities in boys and girls of 8-12 years of age during an entire primary school season.

Conditions

• Bone Mineral Content
• Bone Density
• Bone Turnover Markers
• Athletic Performance

Interventions

OTHER

School physical education class

Children participated only in school physical education classes only.

OTHER

Taekwondo

Children participated only in taekwondo training only.

OTHER

Martial arts

Children participated only in martial arts training only.

OTHER

Climbing

Children participated only in climbing training only.

OTHER

Volleyball

Children participated only in volleyball training only.

OTHER

Artistic gymnastics

Children participated only in artistic gymnastics training only.

OTHER

Swimming

Children participated only in swimming training only.

OTHER

Dance

Children participated only in dance training only.

OTHER

Basketball

Children participated only in basketball training only.

OTHER

Wrestling

Children participated only in wrestling training only.

OTHER

Football (soccer)

Children participated only in football (soccer) training only.

OTHER

Rhythmic gymnastics

Children participated only in rhythmic gymnastics training only.

OTHER

Track and field

Children participated only in track and field training only.

OTHER

Tennis

Children participated only in tennis training only.

OTHER

Combination of activities 1

Children participated in two weight-bearing activities.

OTHER

Combination of activities 2

Children participated in one weight-bearing activity and in one non weight-bearing activity.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Democritus University of Thrace

  collaborator OTHER

• Ioannis G. Fatouros

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Antonis Kambas · Democritus University of Thrace

• Diamanda Leontsini · Democritus University of Thrace

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-04-30

Primary Completion

2014-06-30

Completion

2017-12-31

Countries

• Greece

Study Locations