Physical activity and fractures over the age of fifty years.

Our aim has been to determine the relationship between long term physical activity (running) and the number and type of fractures occurring in 906 subjects. Analysis focused on the fractures which occurred during the last 10 years of observation in 722 subjects over the age of 55 years (456 runners and 266 nonrunners). Male and female runners had more fractures than nonrunners, mainly in the lower extremity. Men with a high body mass had fewer total fractures and fewer arm fractures than those with a lower body mass. Men and women with a high calcium intake had fewer fractures from falls than those with a low calcium intake. Fewer fractures from falls occurred in women the longer they had been taking hormones.