High-impact exercise in adulthood and vertebral dimensions in midlife - the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study

• Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Main Authors: Petteri Oura, Markus Paananen, Jaakko Niinimäki, Tuija Tammelin, Juha Auvinen, Raija Korpelainen, Jaro Karppinen, Juho-Antti Junno
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017
• Subjects: Osteoporosis; Lumbar spine; Vertebral size; Sports participation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Cohort study; Diseases of the musculoskeletal system; RC925-935; Northern Finland
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1794-8; https://doaj.org/article/5e7b8e07b9ea44aa8463834b83fbf68e

Abstract Background Vertebral size and especially cross-sectional area (CSA) are independently associated with vertebral fracture risk. Previous studies have suggested that physical activity and especially high-impact exercise may affect vertebral strength. We aimed to investigate the association between high-impact exercise at 31 and 46 years of age and vertebral dimensions in midlife. Methods We used a subsample of 1023 individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study with records of self-reported sports participation from 31 and 46 years and MRI-derived data on vertebral dimensions from 46 years. Based on the sports participation data, we constructed three impact categories (high, mixed, low) that represented longitudinal high-impact exercise activity in adulthood. We used linear regression and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models to analyse the association between high-impact exercise and vertebral CSA, with adjustments for vertebral height and body mass index. Results Participation in high-impact sports was associated with large vertebral CSA among women but not men. The women in the 'mixed' group had 36.8 (95% confidence interval 11.2–62.5) mm2 larger CSA and the women in the 'high' group 43.2 (15.2–71.1) mm2 larger CSA than the 'low' group. Conclusions We suggest that participation (≥ 1/week) in one or more high-impact sports in adulthood is associated with larger vertebral size, and thus increased vertebral strength, among middle-aged women.