Semmelweis Study Finds Football, Handball Lift Bone Markers Up to 46% Over Walking
Updated
Updated · Medical Dialogues · Aug 13
Semmelweis Study Finds Football, Handball Lift Bone Markers Up to 46% Over Walking
1 articles · Updated · Medical Dialogues · Aug 13
Summary
24 clinical studies covering 1,238 healthy adults found recreational football and handball produced the strongest early signs of bone building, outperforming walking, step aerobics and gym-based resistance training.
Up to 45%–46% increases appeared in blood biomarkers linked to bone formation, with researchers attributing the effect to explosive movements, rapid direction changes and turning rather than exercise volume alone.
Resistance training showed no significant effect on bone-metabolism markers, and low- to moderate-intensity endurance exercise such as walking or jogging showed no meaningful long-term impact in the analysis.
Semmelweis researchers said the findings could help shape osteoporosis-prevention programs, while warning that people with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic disease or osteoporosis should seek medical advice before starting high-intensity training.