1. Determinants of bone density among athletes engaged in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing activity
- Author
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Block, Jon E, Friedlander, Anne L, Brooks, George A, Steiger, Peter, and Stubbs, Harrison A
- Subjects
Aerospace Medicine - Abstract
The effect of weight bearing activity on the bone density was investigated in athletes by comparing the measures of bone density of athletes engaged in weight-training programs with those of polo players and nonexercising subjects. All subjects had measurements of spinal trabecular and integral bone density by quantitative tomography, as well as determinations of hip bone density by dual photon absorptiometry. Results confirmed previous findings by Block et al. (1987) of significantly greater bone density among highly trained athletes compared with nonexercising subjects of similar age. Results also indicated that athletes engaged in non-weight-bearing forms of rigorous exercise had greater levels of bone density. However, as the participants in this study were exceptional athletes, engaged in a strenuous sport with both aerobic and heavy resistance components, a confirmation of these data is needed, using larger samples of individuals.
- Published
- 1989