Study: Vigorously Active Children Have Less Chance of Osteoarthritis as Adults

Children who engage in vigorous physical activity are less likely to develop osteoarthritis later in life, according to an editorial in the September issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The authors, from the University of Melbourne and Monash University in Australia, cited various studies to back up their claim.

One of those studies found that inactive children had 22 to 25 percent less cartilage than even mildly active children. Another observed that a high level of activity increased cartilage volume in the knee by up to 15 percent a year in boys and up to 10 percent a year in girls. Prior animal studies suggest that withholding exercise in early life may prevent the normal development of joint cartilage.

Since cartilage loss is a hallmark of osteoarthritis, the researchers reasoned from this data that children who increase cartilage volume in the growing years because of their physical activity may reduce their risk of osteoarthritis in their later years.

"The current evidence supports a prescription of vigorous physical activity for optimum joint development in children," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: British Medical Journal 2003; 37: 382-3