Associations between long-term exercise participation and lower limb joint and whole-bone geometry in young and older adults

Abstract

We observed modest differences in frontal bowing between athletes and non-athletes, and modest differences in acetabular version angle between young athletes and controls. The site-specific nature of these differences may highlight some retained ability to adapt bone shaft geometry in adulthood whereas epiphyseal geometry is largely fixed. Therefore, the ability to alter skeletal geometry via exercise in adulthood appears limited reinforcing the importance of physical activity during development as a strategy to optimise life-long skeletal health. Conversely, skeletal geometry does not appear to be a determinant of muscle function in adulthood. This may in part explain why strategies to improve muscle function remain effective even into old age.