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Less physically active children are shorter.

Udo Meinhardt1, Fabienne Witassek1, Renato Petrò1

  • 1Center for Pediatric Endocrinology Zürich (PEZZ), Zurich, Switzerland.

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Physical activity positively impacts linear growth in children. Less active children tend to be shorter with smaller feet, suggesting a "muscle epiphyseal unit" regulates bone growth.

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Area of Science:

  • Pediatric endocrinology and sports medicine.
  • Human growth and development.
  • Bone biology and physical activity.

Background:

  • Linear growth is influenced by genetics, endocrine, and nutritional factors.
  • The impact of physical activity (PA) on linear growth is debated.
  • Previous research indicated PA promotes foot length in children with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that physical activity-related epiphyseal loading positively modulates linear growth in healthy school children.
  • To explore the relationship between physical activity, height, and foot length in children.

Main Methods:

  • 99 healthy schoolchildren's height, foot length, and physical activity (PA) were measured using tri-axial accelerometry.
  • PA-related epiphyseal loading was calculated as body weight multiplied by acceleration.
  • Correlations were analyzed considering age, sex, parental height, and body composition (lean and fat mass) via DEXA.

Main Results:

  • Height SDS and foot length SDS showed significant correlations with PA.
  • Muscle mass (lean body mass) demonstrated a stronger correlation with PA, height SDS, and foot length SDS compared to fat mass.

Conclusions:

  • Physically less active children were found to be shorter with shorter feet.
  • A novel "muscle epiphyseal unit" concept is proposed, regulating local bone growth during the period of open epiphyseal plates.