Bone-specific physical activity questionnaire-derived skeletal loading score predicts bone geometry, density, and strength indices: a cross-sectional study

Introduction The bone-specific physical activity questionnaire (BPAQ) provides a bone-relevant index of physical activity participation according to the mechanical loads experienced across the life span. Materials and methods We aimed to examine relationships between historical bone-relevant physical activity and pQCT-derived parameters of bone strength. We recruited 532 healthy volunteers (277 males, 255 females) across a broad age range (4–97 years). Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (XCT-3000, Stratec, Germany) was used to examine volumetric bone density, area, and strength indices of the non-dominant tibia and radius. Exercise loading history from birth was determined using the past BPAQ (pBPAQ) score. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between pBPAQ scores and pQCT parameters. Results Independent of sex, pBPAQ scores were associated with total density at the 38% and 66% tibial sites and the 66% radial site ( r = 0.145–0.261, p ˂ 0.05), total area at the 38% tibial site and 4% and 66% radial sites ( r = 0.129–0.156, p ˂ 0.05), and strength indices at all measured sites ( r = 0.123–0.234, p < 0.05). Conclusion We conclude that, independent of sex, historical bone-relevant physical activity is associated with pQCT-derived indices of bone strength, indicating that pBPAQ captures the characteristics of bone loading history that are likely to be relevant adaptive stimuli. A larger sample is required to examine the influence of age on this relationship.