Influence of physical activity and skeleton geometry on bone mass at the proximal femur in 10- to 12-year-old children--a longitudinal study.

UNLABELLED: Physical activity (PA) have long been identified as a determining factor of the mineralization of the skeleton, particularly in children. Our research supports the hypothesis that the geometry of the pelvis and proximal femur (PF) might moderate the effect of PA in the relative mineralization of the PF subregions. INTRODUCTION: Using a longitudinal observational study with two evaluations and a 1-year follow-up interval, we investigated the influence of PA and skeletal geometry in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mass distribution at the PF in 96 girls and 81 boys (10-12 years). It is plausible that the geometry of the pelvis-PF structure moderates mechanical forces exerted at the hip and therefore creates different degrees of mineralization among PF subregions. METHODS: Whole body and left hip dual X-ray absorptiometry scans were used to derive geometric measures of the pelvis-inter-acetabular distance (IAD) and PF abductor lever arm (ALA). BMD was measured at the integral, superolateral (SL), and inferomedial (IM) femoral neck (FN), and at the trochanter (TR). These subregions were used to represent bone mass distribution via three BMD ratios: FN/PF, IM/SL, and TR/PF. PA was measured using accelerometry and a bone-specific PA questionnaire (BPAQ). RESULTS: A longitudinal data approach revealed BPAQ as a positive predictor for all BMD variables (p < 0.05) except TR BMD in girls and FN BMD in boys. Comparing the most active with the less-active participants, the greatest benefits of PA were observed at the FN of the girls with the lowest IAD (p < 0.001), at the FN of the boys with the highest IAD (p < 0.001) and at the TR of the boys with the lowest ALA (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Geometric measures of IAD and ALA seem to moderate the effect of PA role in the relative mineralization of the PF regions. On the other hand, absolute BMD levels appear to be determined by mechanical loading.

Human proximal femur bone adaptation to variations in hip geometry.

The study of bone mass distribution at proximal femur may contribute to understand the role of hip geometry on hip fracture risk. We examined how bone mineral density (BMD) of proximal femur adapts to inter individual variations in the femoral neck length (FNL), femoral neck width (FNW) and neck shaft angle (NSA). A parameterized and dimensionally scalable 3-D finite element model of a reference proximal femur geometry was incrementally adjusted to adopt physiological ranges at FNL (3.90-6.90cm), FNW (2.90-3.46cm), and NSA (109-141º), yielding a set of femora with different geometries. The bone mass distribution for each femur was obtained with a suitable bone remodelling model. The BMDs at the integral femoral neck (FN) and at the intertrochanteric (ITR) region, as well as the BMD ratio of inferomedial to superolateral (IM:SL) regions of FN and BMD ratio of FN:ITR were used to represent bone mass distribution. Results revealed that longer FNLs present greater BMD (g/cm(3)) at the FN, mainly at the SL region, and at the ITR region. Wider FNs were associated with reduced BMD at the FN, particularly at the SL region, and at the ITR region. Larger NSAs up to 129° were associated with BMD diminutions at the FN and ITR regions and with increases of the IM:SL BMD ratio while NSAs larger than 129° resulted in decrease of the IM:SL BMD ratio. These findings suggest hip geometry as moderator of the mechanical loading influence on bone mass distribution at proximal femur with higher FNL favoring the BMD of FN and ITR regions and greater FNW and NSA having the opposite effect. Augmented values of FNL and FNW seem also to favor more the BMD at the superolateral than at the inferomedial FN region.