SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS Physical Activity and Bone Health POSITION STAND This pronouncement was written for the American College of

Weight-bearing physical activity has beneficial effects on bone health across the age spectrum. Physical activities that generate relatively high-intensity loading forces, such as plyometrics, gymnastics, and high-inten-sity resistance training, augment bone mineral accrual in children and adolescents. Further, there is some evidence that exercise-induced gains in bone mass in children are maintained into adulthood, suggesting that physical activity habits during childhood may have long-lasting benefits on bone health. It is not yet possible to describe in detail an exercise program for children and adolescents that will optimize peak bone mass, because quantitative dose-response studies are lacking. However, evidence from multiple small randomized, controlled trials suggests that the following exercise prescription will augment bone mineral accrual in children and adolescents: Mode: impact activities, such as gymnastics, plyometrics, and jumping, and moderate intensity resistance training; partic