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. 2025 Sep 9;12(9):1204.
doi: 10.3390/children12091204.

High-Intensity Physical Activity During Late Adolescence Predicts Young Adult CT-Based Finite Element Bone Strength in Emerging Adulthood: Iowa Bone Development Study

Soyang Kwon  1 , Kathleen F Janz  2 , Indranil Guha  3 , Alex V Rowlands  4   5   6 , Oscar Rysavy  7 , Punam K Saha  3 , Chandler Pendleton  7 , Euisung D Shin  8 , Steven M Levy  9
Affiliations

High-Intensity Physical Activity During Late Adolescence Predicts Young Adult CT-Based Finite Element Bone Strength in Emerging Adulthood: Iowa Bone Development Study

Soyang Kwon et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated associations between physical activity (PA) during late adolescence and emerging adulthood and bone strength in emerging adulthood by utilizing advanced finite element analysis of computed tomography (CT/FEA) technology beyond the traditional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) method.

Methods: This study included 266 participants (152 females) from the Iowa Bone Development Study. PA volume (average acceleration) and intensity (intensity gradient) metrics were calculated from ActiGraph accelerometer data collected at ages 17, 19, 21, and 23 years. Compressive modulus and compressive stiffness of the tibia were estimated at age 23 via CT/FEA of the tibia. Sex-specific linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between PA metrics and bone outcomes, adjusting for age, height, weight, musculoskeletal fitness, and calcium intake.

Results: Intensity gradient averaged over 17-23 years of age was positively associated with compressive stiffness at age 23 years in both females and males (p < 0.01). Intensity gradient was positively associated with compressive modulus in females (p < 0.01), but not in males. No significant associations were found between average acceleration and either compressive stiffness or modulus in either sex (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Using a state-of-the-art CT/FEA method, this study suggests that high-intensity PA during late adolescence and emerging adulthood improves bone strength.

Keywords: adolescent bone health; cohort study; computed tomography (CT); finite element analysis (FEA); musculoskeletal fitness; physical activity intensity; physical activity volume; young adult bone integrity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
FEA-modeled images of the distal tibia from two female participants. (a). Stiffness: 451 kN/mm and Modulus: 2991 MPa. (b). Stiffness: 652 kN/mm and Modulus: 4409 MPa.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Partial residual plots for the relationship between intensity gradient (IG) and compressive modulus and stiffness in multivariable linear regression models.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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