Exercise-induced bone adaptation: Considerations for designing an osteogenically effective exercise program

Exercise is recommended to enhance the bone's structural strength, thus reducing the incidence of work-related bone fractures. However, studies about exercise effects on the bone have produced ambiguous results. While cross-sectional studies consistently reveal that morphological changes in response to long-term exercise can be substantial, results from prospective, longitudinal studies are equivocal, demonstrating only modest or negligible increases in parameters such as bone mineral density or bone mineral content. In this regard, a review of the current understanding of mechanically induced bone modelling is provided, along with a discussion on the concept related to osteogenically efficient exercise programs.