The Assessment of Historical Physical Activity and Its Relation to Adult Bone Parameters

Abstract

The aim of the present research was to determine the association between historical physical activity and baseline bone measurements in a group of 223 postmenopausal women participating in a clinical trial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1981 to 1986 by evaluating the effect of moderate physical activity on bone loss. Historical physical activity was assessed by a survey which divided the life span into four time periods (14-21, 22-34, 35-50, and 50+ years) and inquired about participation in leisure time physical activities for each period. From the responses, kilocalories of energy expenditure were calculated. Cortical bone density and area were measured in the radius with a computerized tomography scanner. The historical physical activity survey was administered a second time two to three months after the initial test to a 10% random sample of the women in order to determine the test-retest reliability of the instrument. Since the measurements of historical physical activity proved to be reliable, estimates of kilocalories determined for the entire population of women were correlated with bone area and density. A significant relation was found to exist between historical physical activity and dimensions of adult bone, particularly bone area. This association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounding variables and seemed to be strongest in the earlier age periods. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a significant association between historical physical activity and bone.

Lifetime physical activity and risk of breast cancer

“…This pattern is consistent with trends in activity in national surveys of US women (US Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). Finally, physical activity levels among women in this study are similar to those among postmenopausal women in another study where physical activity was assessed using the same questionnaire (Kriska et al, 1988).…”

“…We believe this is unlikely. The questionnaire we used has good reliability (Kriska et al, 1988) and has face validity. It is extremely difficult to directly validate lifetime physical activity.…”

“…For every activity in each of the 4 age periods, they were asked to report the number of years, months per year, and hours per week the activity was carried out in that age period. This questionnaire, administered 2-3 months apart to postmenopausal women, yielded Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.69-0.85 for the various ages (Kriska et al, 1988).…”

Determinants of bone mineralization in 8 to 20 year old Finnish females

“…Altogether, if the subject is healthy and the growth is normal and calcium intake is within recommended levels, physical activity seems to be an effective and recommendable mean to obtain larger peak bone mass during growth and thus larger and apparently stronger bones (Kriska et al, 1988;Kannus et al, 1995). This suggests that the prevention of osteoporosis should thus begin early in life.…”

Physical activity and body composition in 10 year old French children: linkages with nutritional intake?

“…Physical activity was assessed in 86 children at the age of 10 y between May 1994 and March 1995 using a questionnaire 27,28 adapted for children 8 (see Appendix A). The parents and the child were interviewed Physical activity in children M Deheeger et al together.…”