EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL HEALTH - MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH AND FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES

The health-enhancing potential of physical activity has gained increas ing scientific support and its promotion as a public health measure ha s been urged in several statements and programs. The potential of phys ical activity for this purpose depends on its effectiveness to produce expected benefits and on the feasibility and safety of the effective activity. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the current scient ific knowledge of the effectiveness of physical activity, especially o f leisure-time exercise, on musculoskeletal health and functional capa bilities from a public health perspective. Thus, the emphasis is on th e effects of leisure-time exercise and daily physical activities. In a ddition, the role of physical activity as a secondary preventive measu re to decrease deleterious consequences of musculoskeletal diseases de serves consideration. Musculoskeletal health includes positive dimensi ons of health-related fitness as well as negative dimensions, such as functional disorders and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Health-related musculoskeletal fitness includes the following components (according to Bouchard, Shephard, & Stephens, 1994): (a) mu scles-mass, strength, power, and endurance; (b) bones-bone mineral den sity (BMD; in grams per square centimeters; accounts for about 80% of bone strength in normal populations) and also other determinants of bo ne strength (e.g., bone mineral content [BMC; in grams], geometry, and internal architecture) would be valid parameters; (c) joints-range of motion or flexibility; and (d) integrated functions (including motor components)-coordination, balance, speed of movement, and agility.