Higher intensity physical activities like handball and soccer boost biomarkers for bone formation
1:00 PM CDT on August 4, 2026
There’s a resistance-training renaissance happening right now. Weightlifting in particular is enjoying a surge in popularity among people who live in the United States, and for good reason. Strength training helps build lean muscle, reduce body fat, and maintain balance—all of which contribute to healthier aging.
But what about bone density? According to a new review published in the journal Sports Medicine – Open, joining a rec sports league might be a better bet for stronger bones.
Researchers from Semmelweis University in Hungary scoured 24 clinical studies involving a total of 1,238 healthy adults ranging in ages from the young to the elderly to investigate the differences between high-intensity and lower-intensity exercise (like resistance training) on bone density. While most of the studies didn’t measure bone mineral density directly, they did record levels of osteocalcin. Higher serum levels of the protein, which is secreted by bone-forming osteoblasts, correlate with increased bone mineral density, making it a useful proxy.
