Want to prevent osteoporosis? Start young. Dr. Kathy Gunter, assistant professor in the College of Public Health and Human Services at Oregon State University, states that " ample evidence suggests that physical activity undertaken in childhood...may be the best defense against skeletal frailty..."
She states that, although there is no specific dose-response, there is good evidence that impact exercise( running and jumping, for example) is highly beneficial. In fact, a program called "Bounce at the Bell" has elementary school kids jump up and down ten times , at the morning, lunch and end-of-day school bells. An Iowa study that has followed kids five years of age and older since 1998 has shown that kids who get 30+ minutes per day of exercise have significantly higher bone mass.
And you might want to invest in a cowbell to get your kids jumping at home. It can't hurt and it might even start a neighborhood trend. But, no vuvuzelas. Those things will make you crazy.
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