Physical activity and fitness for the Prevention and Management of Bone Diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, mental illness and diabetes are responsible for almost 70% of all deaths worldwide. Physical inactivity and poor fitness are known as important factors behind the rise in NCDs. Moreover, these factors are also linked to poor bone health.

Studies till date have mainly used DXA scans to measure bone mass but data from 3-dimensional devices is scarce and may provide with precise cortical and trabecular bone parameters to better understand bone adaptations to exercise. Moreover, there is a lack of proper exercise intervention studies specifically designed for improving bone outcomes at clinical sites at various life stages and under certain conditions, which is crucial to underline the importance of physical activity and fitness both on bone accrual and bone preservation.

The goal of this Research Topic is to highlight the contribution of physical activity and fitness on bone parameters in the prevention and management of NCDs. Examples include DXA-derived areal bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content, hip geometry estimates and trabecular bone score and, 3D-DXA and (peripheral) quantitative computed tomography parameters such as cortical thickness, and cortical and trabecular volumetric BMD and bone strength, among others.

We invite submissions of manuscripts describing either original research (e.g., observational studies or clinical trials) or reviews (e.g., systematic reviews or meta-analyses) on the importance of physical activity and/or fitness in bone parameters. Studies from both healthy and unhealthy populations are welcome.

The topic supports #SDG3 Good Health and Well Being.

Keywords: Exercise, Bone mineral density, Non-communicable diseases, Fitness, DXA, pQCT

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.