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Exercise-induced strain and strain rate in the distal radius

¹ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden.
² Department of Orthopaedics, Hadassah University Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Ein Kerem, P. O. Box 12000, Jerusalem, Israel.
³ Israel Defence Forces Medical Corp, Military P. O. Box 02149, Israel.
⁴ Karolinska Institute and Sabbatsberg Hospital, 113 82 Stockholm, Sweden.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr Z. Földhazy; e-mail: zoltan.foldhazy{at}cfss.ki.se

Strains applied to bone can stimulate its development and adaptation. High strains and rates of strain are thought to be osteogenic, but the specific dose response relationship is not known. In vivo human strain measurements have been performed in the tibia to try to identify optimal bone strengthening exercises for this bone, but no measurements have been performed in the distal radial metaphysis, the most frequent site of osteoporotic fractures. Using a strain gauged bone staple, in vivo dorsal metaphyseal radial strains and rates of strain were measured in ten female patients during activities of daily living, standard exercises and falls on extended hands. Push-ups and falling resulted in the largest compression strains (median 1345 to 3146 µ, equivalent to a 0.1345% to 0.3146% length change) and falling exercises in the largest strain rates (18 582 to 45 954 µ/s). On the basis of their high strain and/or strain rates these or variations of these exercises may be appropriate for distal radial metaphyseal bone strengthening.