| Why Jumping by Children Could Prevent Osteoporosis | |||||
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Email Me An experiment is taking place now-in Richmond, B.C. The results suggest the following: -Pre-teen girls who did simple 10-minute jumping exercises (three times a week) strengthened their skeletons (bone density) 5% more than the "control group"-i. e. those that did not do the jumping.) The results were published in a magazine called "Pediatrics." Heather MacKay, a professor of orthopaedics, is very impressed. She says that these girls accomplished in two years-what women (who take medication for osteoporosis) would normally accomplish in five years. This increase in bone density, attributable to exercise training in childhood could therefore be maintained into adult years. This study (now two years old) started with 179 Richmond girls-in Grades Four, Five, and Six.)-These girls attended several schools. There will be ongoing research (during the next four years) to see if the benefits have been sustained. The strength of the girls' skeletons was checked-using measurements for the hip-and spine bone density. Height, weight, and body composition rations-were also determined-and recorded. (Most women who get treated for osteoporosis are past menopause. In these women, the loss of estrogen is associated with a two to five-per-cent-a year loss-of bone mineral density). One result of increasing bone density-is that if people fall, the amount of injury would be less severe (Possibly also, jumping would build and maintain balance-which would likely prevent falls-or help regain one's balance-if they do start to fall. Among the exercises the girls did were:
The exercise is very safe. None of the girls sustained injuries. It is simple, inexpensive, can be done anywhere. It involves minimal demands on teachers. As a result, there is an additional study at Vancouver and Richmond Schools called "Bounce At The Bell." The teachers at 10 schools supervise jumping exercises in the classroom. (They do short bursts of jumps every time they hear the bell (three times daily). Among those conducting the research are:
NOTE: If you would like to email me, my email address is: skippingdancers@hotmail.com
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