Playing ball games as a teenager can help keep bones healthy for more than 40 years, say researchers. Weight-bearing exercises such as handball, softball, volleyball, tennis and basketball keep bones strong into older age.

    The same can be said for high impact sprinting, a study on sport played between the ages of 12 and 18 found.

    Researchers from the Suzuka University of Medical Science in Japan, questioned 46 women aged 52 to 73 for the study, to be published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

    研究人员表示，青少年从事球类运动有助于保持骨骼健康40年以上。手球、垒球、排球、网球和篮球之类负重运动，可使人在年纪增长时保持骨骼强壮。

    一项对受访者在12岁至18岁时所从事的体育活动的研究发现，高强度短跑同样可以起到上述效果。

    为了进行此项研究，日本铃鹿医疗科学大学(Suzuka University of Medical Science)的研究人员查访了46位52岁至73岁的妇女。研究报告将在《英国运动医学期刊》(British Journal of Sports Medicine)上发表。