What are the long-term effects of exercise on the skeletal system?

Answer 1

The skeletal tissue is a 'living' part of your body and so has the ability to repair itself and adapt like almost all the rest of the parts of your body. The long term effects of exercise depend on what type of exercise you are talking about.

Resistance-based exercise such as weight-lifting puts stress on the bones involved in the lifting. Over time this actually triggers an adaptation mechanism that results in bone density increasing and therefore making the bones stronger. This can help prevent/reduce bone wasting conditions such as osteoporosis.

Endurance-type exercise, however, causes wear to cartilage and joint material that is not usually repaired by the body. Worn out joints (particularly knees and hips) can cause problems later in life that may require surgical correction.

Answer 2

• Mineral content of bones increases and bones get denser;
• Ligaments become stronger and stretch slightly;
• Cartilage thickens.