Continuing bone growth throughout life: A general phenomenon

Abstract

Abstract Cross‐sectional data on 2799 subjects from five different populations and longitudinal data on 113 older adults indicate continuing adult bone growth in the second metacarpal. Similar 6‐decade increases in the size of the cranium confirm continuing bone growth as a general phenomenon not necesarily related to weightbearing or flexion stress and representing an increase of approximately 10% in skeletal volume concomitant with the major age‐associated decrease in skeletal mass.