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The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle-to-bone ratio (MBR) in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football players (collegiate football players [CFP]) to healthy, age-matched controls. In addition, we examined MBR in CFP by position. A total of 553 CFP and 261 controls had their total and regional lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), and bone mineral content (BMC) determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). College football players were categorized by positions defined as offensive linemen (OL), defensive linemen (DL), tight end, linebacker (LB), running back (RB), punter or kicker, quarterback (QB), defensive back (DB), and wide receiver (WR). There were significant differences between CFP and controls for total LM (80.1 ± 10.0 vs. 56.9 ± 7.8 kg), FM (22.2 ± 12.5 vs. 15.2 ± 7.1 kg), and BMC (4.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.1 ± 0.5 kg). Although there were significant differences in body composition between CFP and controls, there was no significant differences in total MBR between CFP and controls (18.6 ± 1.4 vs. 18.8 ± 1.7). Regionally, CFP had significantly lower trunk MBR than controls (26.7 ± 2.7 vs. 28.7 ± 4.2), but no difference was seen in leg or arm MBR. Positional differences in CFP were noted as total MBR being significantly higher in DL (19.0 ± 1.4) than in DB (18.1 ± 1.3), WR (18.1 ± 1.3), and LB (18.2 ± 1.3). OL had a significantly higher total MBR (19.2 ± 1.3) than DB(18.1 ± 1.3), LB (18.2 ± 1.3), QB (18.1 ± 1.0), and WR (18.1 ± 1.3). In addition, RB had significantly higher total MBR (18.8 ± 1.3) than DB (18.1 ± 1.3) and WR (18.1 ± 1.3). This study may provide athletes and training staff with normative values when evaluating total and regional MBR with DXA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to examine the muscle-to-bone ratio (MBR) in National Football League (NFL) players. Three hundred and forty-six NFL players had their total body lean, fat and bone masses determined using dual X-ray absorptiometry and were compared to 228 age-matched, healthy male controls. Compared to the control group, NFL players had a significantly lower percent total body fat (17.90±6.92 vs. 22.93±8.96%, p=0.053), but significantly greater total fat mass (19.76±11.29 vs. 17.84±12.11 kg, p<0.0001), lean mass (84.55±8.75 vs. 55.3±11.79 kg, p<0.0001), bone mineral content (4.58±0.45 vs. 2.91±0.67 kg, p<0.0001), and bone mineral density (1.61±0.11 vs. 1.26±0.21 g/cm2 , p<0.0001). NFL players had greater arm MBR (17.70±1.47 vs. 16.48±1.88, p<0.0001) than controls; however, both trunk (26.62±2.55 vs. 31.56±4.19, p<0.0001) and total (18.50±1.31 vs. 19.12±1.88, p<0.001) MBR were lower in NFL players. Leg MBR was not significantly different between NFL players and controls (16.72±1.53 vs. 16.85±1.87, p=0.34). When NFL players were categorized by their offensive or defensive position for comparison, no differences in total MBR were observed. However, leg MBR varied greatly among NFL players by position. It is possible that regional differences in MBR in the NFL players may be related to the demands of that position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]