Effect of Starting Age of Physical Activity on Bone Mass in the Dominant Arm of Tennis and Squash Players

Abstract

Bones of the playing extremity clearly benefit from active tennis and squash training, which increases their mineral mass. The benefit of playing is about two times greater if females start playing at or before menarche rather than after it. The minimal level and minimum number of years of activity necessary to produce these results, the extent to which this benefit is sustained after cessation of intensive training, and the degree to which these results can be extended to other forms of physical activity and other bone sites should be studied further.