Enhanced Bone Size, Microarchitecture, and Strength in Female Runners with a History of Playing Multidirectional Sports.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
; 54(12): 2020-2030, 2022 12 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35941520
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Female runners have high rates of bone stress injuries (BSIs), including stress reactions and fractures. The current study explored multidirectional sports (MDS) played when younger as a potential means of building stronger bones to reduce BSI risk in these athletes.METHODS:
Female collegiate-level cross-country runners were recruited into groups 1) RUN, history of training and/or competing in cross-country, recreational running/jogging, swimming, and/or cycling only, and 2) RUN + MDS, additional history of training and/or competing in soccer or basketball. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography was used to assess the distal tibia, common BSI sites (diaphysis of the tibia, fibula, and second metatarsal), and high-risk BSI sites (base of the second metatarsal, navicular, and proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal). Scans of the radius were used as control sites.RESULTS:
At the distal tibia, RUN + MDS ( n = 18) had enhanced cortical area (+17.1%) and thickness (+15.8%), and greater trabecular bone volume fraction (+14.6%) and thickness (+8.3%) compared with RUN ( n = 14; all P < 0.005). Failure load was 19.5% higher in RUN + MDS ( P < 0.001). The fibula diaphysis in RUN + MDS had an 11.6% greater total area and a 11.1% greater failure load (all P ≤ 0.03). At the second metatarsal diaphysis, total area in RUN + MDS was 10.4% larger with greater cortical area and thickness and 18.6% greater failure load (all P < 0.05). RUN + MDS had greater trabecular thickness at the base of the second metatarsal and navicular and greater cortical area and thickness at the proximal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal (all P ≤ 0.02). No differences were observed at the tibial diaphysis or radius.CONCLUSIONS:
These findings support recommendations that athletes delay specialization in running and play MDS when younger to build a more robust skeleton and potentially prevent BSIs.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Running
/
Bone Density
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Med Sci Sports Exerc
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article