Reduced Peak Bone Mass in Young Adults with Low Motor Competence

Although suboptimal bone health has been reported in children and adolescents with low motor competence (LMC), it is not known whether such deficits are present at the time of peak bone mass. We examined the impact of LMC on bone mineral density (BMD) in 1043 participants (484 females) from the Raine Cohort Study. Participants had motor competence assessed using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development at 10, 14, and 17 years, and a whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan at 20 years. Bone loading from physical activity was estimated from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire at the age of 17. The association between LMC and BMD was determined using general …