Horticultural activity predicts later localized limb status in a contemporary pre-industrial population.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Modern humans may have gracile skeletons due to low physical activity levels and mechanical loading. Tests using pre-historic skeletons are limited by the inability to assess behavior directly, while modern industrialized societies possess few socio-ecological features typical of human evolutionary history. Among Tsimane forager-horticulturalists, we test whether greater activity levels and, thus, increased loading earlier in life are associated with greater later-life bone status and diminished age-related bone loss.

Materials and methods

We used quantitative ultrasonography to assess radial and tibial status among adults aged 20+ years (mean ± SD age = 49 ± 15; 52% female). We conducted systematic behavioral observations to assess earlier-life activity patterns

SUBMITTER: Stieglitz J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5478456 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature