Read the text below.
A recent study revealed that doing intense physical activities can lead to stronger bones.
A study by the University of Southern Denmark and University of Copenhagen analyzed the bone and muscle health of 295 eight- to 10-year-old pupils for a period of one academic year. The researchers made a comparison between the effects of traditional physical education (PE) classes and high-impact physical activities, such as ball games and circuit training, on the participants’ bone density—the amount of minerals in a person’s bone.
Findings revealed that schoolchildren who participated in ball games or did 40-minute circuit training sessions three days a week showed improvement in their muscle strength and balance by 10% and 15%, respectively. Ball games alone also increased the leg and overall bone density of the participants by 7% and 3%. In addition, the overall bone density of those who did intense physical activities was 45% better than those who attended regular PE classes.
University of Southern Denmark assistant professor Malte Nejst [malt neyst] Larsen said that having healthy bone density, muscle strength, and balance, especially in children aged eight to 10, can counter osteoporosis—a disease wherein increased bone deterioration leads to risk of bone fracture.
An old study found that other high-impact sports like tennis, volleyball, basketball, and sprinting can lower the risk of osteoporosis. Based on the study results, respondents who engaged in the said sports when they were younger displayed higher bone mineral content, which can help prevent osteoporosis.