Physical Activity Aimed
at Bone Health
Improvement for
Elementary School
Children
Dr. Ester Goldstein
Children’s bone health in the Physical Education
Curriculum of the Ministry of Education
The physical education curriculum of the
Ministry of Education (4-8 ages) is an early bird
with respect to bone development (2007)
The Linkage between Physical Activity
and Bone Mass Increase
The bone is a tissue that needs a controlled load to
develop in an optimal manner
This load is being created by two mechanical forces
that impact the bone: Gravitation and muscles
force
Gravitation although constantly influencing the bone
can not by itself provide the load needed for an
optimal development of the bones
Therefore there is a need for an activity of those
muscles that activate bones and joints
The Bone Growth law
According to this law the bone strengthens
in direct proportion to the resistance
activated on it provided it is not
overdone and there is a chance to
rest in between
Physical Activity at the Young Age
For years there has been a common opinion that it is
worthwhile to put an emphasis during adolescence
on physical activity that puts load on the bone
Yet, studies that have been carried out last years
show that the most influential period with respect to
bone mass building is in fact childhood
Window of Opportunity’ for Bone
Mass Building
Bones building in the human body is a dynamic
process
Bones can become longer, thicker and have
increased density
This process is limited within a certain time
frame
What is the right Bone Health
Activity for Children?
The bone strengthening activity adapted for children is
a resistance driven activity
Jumping and bouncing exercises in which the ground
resist the body movements
The load on the legs created by jumps activity
strengthen them and the lower back [lower
vertebrates and pelvis]
What is the right Bone Health
Activity for Children? [Cont.]
An activity that creates load on the hands
strengthen hand palm joints, hand bones the
upper back bones, the upper vertebrates and
shoulder blades
The “Ganim” school model at “Ganey
Tikva”
1. Bone health study of 2nd and 3rd graders
2. Homework for children to be done within school
website
3. Preparation of exercise multiple-entry ticket at
class and schoolyard
4. A new movement surrounding at schoolyard
Bone health study of 2nd and 3rd graders
Our study – the first of its kind in Israel (2012) was
conducted to analyze the influence of a structured
physical-activity intervention program for bone
strengthening
1. Planning and teaching of an intervention
program in trial groups [jointly with our
students]
Carried out in cooperation with physical
education teachers
Our students were engaged in planning
stages
2. Homework for Children to be
done Within School website
Posted in the schools website to encourage children
to exercise in their free time and later report
through the computer
A letter of explanation of the importance was
circulated to the parents
3. Preparation of exercise Multi-Entry Cards
in class and schoolyard
A set of 25 exercise cards was prepared by the
students, to be practiced independently by
children
To encourage practicing, the exercises are simple
easy to do and need just minimal equipment
In Class
In yard
�
A game
4. A new movement surrounding at
schoolyard
The aim of creating a new movement surrounding
through fixed and painted activity spots is to
encourage children to exercise during intermission or
in their free
Thanks
To my partner Dr. Ella Shoval who assisted me in
planning, tutoring the students team and adding
creative ideas, to the student’s team and to physical
education teachers