Musculoskeletal Benefits from a Physical Activity Program in Primary School are Retained 4 Years after the Program is Terminated

Björn E Rosengren, Erik Lindgren, Lars Jehpsson, Magnus Dencker, Magnus K Karlsson, Björn E Rosengren, Erik Lindgren, Lars Jehpsson, Magnus Dencker, Magnus K Karlsson

Abstract

Daily school physical activity (PA) improves musculoskeletal traits. This study evaluates whether the benefits remain 4 years after the intervention. We followed 45 boys and 36 girls who had had 40 min PA/school day during the nine compulsory school years and 21 boys and 22 girls who had had 60 min PA/school week (reference), with measurements at baseline and 4 years after the program terminated. Bone mineral content (BMC; g) and bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm2) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and knee flexion peak torque relative to total body weight (PTflexTBW) at a speed of 180 degrees/second with a computerized dynamometer. Group differences are presented as mean differences (adjusted for sex and duration of follow-up period) with 95% confidence intervals. The total gain bone mass [mean difference in spine BMC +32.0 g (14.6, 49.4) and in arms BMD of +0.06 g/cm2 (0.02, 0.09)] and gain in muscle strength [mean difference in PTflex180TBW +12.1 (2.0, 22.2)] were greater in the intervention than in the control group. There are still 4 years after the intervention indications of benefits in both bone mass and muscle strength gain. Daily school PA may counteract low bone mass and inferior muscle strength in adult life. ClinicalTrials.gov.NCT000633828 retrospectively registered 2008-11-03.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00633828.

Keywords: Bone mineral content; Bone mineral density; Children; Muscle strength; Physical activity.

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest or competing interests for any of the authors.

© 2021. The Author(s).

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of study participants
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Gains in musculoskeletal traits in the intervention group compared to the control group from a end of the intervention to follow-up and b from baseline to follow-up. Data are shown for bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in total body less head and femoral neck and muscle strength as knee flexion peak torque 180 degrees/second and knee flexion peak torque 180 degrees/second relative to total body weight (TBW). Bars represent the mean group deviation (adjusted for sex and duration of follow-up period) in the intervention group compared to mean gain in the control group (0.0) expressed in standard deviations (SD) with 95% confidence intervals

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