Scientists talked about stimulating the formation of bone tissue loads

Physical activity helps maintain bone health, but different types of exercise can have different effects on bone renewal processes. A new study has shown that a particularly noticeable body response is associated with intense exercise, in which the pulse rate rises above 85% of the maximum. At the same time, habitual activities such as walking, jogging, and strength exercises did not always lead to comparable changes in the studied biomarkers. About which workouts turned out to be the most effective and why the results so far do not mean that other types of activity are useless, see the Izvestia article.

Intense exercise increased the markers of bone formation

This is the conclusion reached by researchers from Semmelweis University in Hungary. They conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 clinical trials involving 1,238 healthy adults. The results are published in the journal Sports Medicine — Open (SM). The researchers compared the effects of different types of training — aerobic, strength, and mixed — on bone metabolism.

Biomarkers that allow us to assess the processes of bone formation and destruction have become the focus of attention. In particular, the researchers studied the levels of osteocalcin, a protein involved in bone formation, and bone alkaline phosphatase. Such indicators can change before the difference in bone mineral density becomes noticeable, so they allow you to assess the body's early response to physical activity.

The most pronounced changes were found in the high-intensity training group. The osteocalcin level in it increased statistically significantly: the average difference was 6.88 units compared to the control values. This category includes activities with a load above 85% of the maximum heart rate. Among the studied types of activity were amateur football, handball, and high-intensity interval training on an exercise bike.

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Football and handball had a noticeable effect

In some studies included in the meta-analysis, the most pronounced response was observed when playing football and handball. These sports involve acceleration, sudden stops, turns, and a change of direction. Such actions create an intense mechanical load on the skeleton and can more actively trigger the processes of bone tissue renewal.

According to Semmelweis University, in such studies, indicators related to bone formation increased to 45-46%. However, this figure refers to the results of individual studies, and not to a single effect established for all participants in the meta-analysis. In the overall assessment, the researchers confirmed a statistically significant increase in the level of osteocalcin during high-intensity exercise.

Walking and strength training did not show the same result.

In the combined analysis, routine aerobic exercise did not result in a statistically significant change in osteocalcin levels. This included walking, running, and step aerobics. Strength training, which the researchers classified into a separate category, did not have a significant effect. Mixed programs that combined aerobic and strength exercises also showed no comparable changes.

However, the results do not mean that such activities are useless for the musculoskeletal system. They can support muscle function, physical fitness, and other health indicators that were not the main purpose of the assessment in this meta-analysis. In addition, the researchers analyzed changes in biomarkers, rather than all possible effects of exercise on the body.

The authors also did not find a statistically significant increase in bone mineral density after aerobic or strength training in those studies where this indicator was measured. Therefore, the work does not allow us to assert that high-intensity activities have already been proven to prevent osteoporosis or reduce the likelihood of fractures. For such conclusions, studies with a direct assessment of bone condition and clinical outcomes are needed.

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Scientists urged to take into account the state of health

Researchers believe that the intensity of exercise may play an important role in the response of bone tissue to physical activity. The results help to better understand what types of training can stimulate bone formation processes, and in the future may be useful in developing programs to maintain skeletal health with age.

However, the authors emphasize that one should not abruptly switch to intensive classes. This is especially important for people with cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as for those who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis. The choice of exercise should take into account the physical capabilities and state of human health.

The scientists themselves note that the study was devoted to healthy adults and biomarkers of bone metabolism. The level of osteocalcin may indicate changes in bone formation processes, but it does not in itself prove that bones have become denser or stronger. Therefore, for final recommendations, more data is needed on the long-term effects of different types of activity on the skeleton.