Reports outline bone research study results from Florida State University.(Report)

"The influence of habitual and low-impact physical activity (PA) on bone health and soft tissue including bone-free lean (BFL) and fat mass is less elucidated than the influence of high-impact activities. This study examines the interactive effects of PA and soft tissue on bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) in healthy Caucasian women, aged 68.6 +/- 7.1 years, with body mass index (BMI) of 26.0 +/- 3.8 kg/m(2) evaluated at baseline and every 6 months for 3 years," scientists writing in the journal Calcified Tissue International report (see also Bone Research).

"Measurements/assessments included BMD/BMC and soft tissue (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), anthropometrics, dietary intake, and PA. Activities assessed were past activity, present heavy housework, gardening, do-it-yourself activities, stair-climbing, walking, walking pace, sports/recreation, and total activity. Baseline analyses revealed significant positive associations between past activity, heavy housework, faster-paced walking, BFL, and BMD/BMC of various skeletal sites. Prospective analyses showed subjects with more walking hours/week had significantly higher BMD/BMC of several skeletal sites (P

The researchers concluded: "Heavy housework, walking (faster pace), sports/recreational activities, and overall total participation in low-impact PA were beneficial for bone and for achieving more favorable body weight and fat but were not associated with BFL. The results indicate that even habitual activities engaged in by older women could benefit ...