The effect of sport on bone mineral density in university students

Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the effect of exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) and whether there are differences among the effects of different sports (running, basketball, handball, volleyball, soccer and wrestling) on BMD. This study was carried out on 110 athletes (70 males and 40 females) and 20 sedentary subjects (10 males and 10 females) aged between 18 and 25. None of the subjects were alcoholic or drug user, had any bone disease or were using steroids. BMD measurements were made on 5 regions (lumbar spine, right femur, left femur, right forearm and left forearm) with dual energy x-ray absorbtiometry. Student' s t test was used in statistical analysis. Lumbar spine, right femur and left femur BMD’ s of both male and female athletes were found significantly greater than those of the sedentary males and females respectively. BMD values of lumbar spine and both femurs all the male branches, of both forearms of the wrestlers and football players and of left forearm of the male handball players were significantly higher than those of the sedentary subjects. In females, BMD values of lumbar spine, both femurs and left forearms of the basketball players, of lumbar spine, left femur and left forearm of the handball players, lumbar spine and both femurs of the volleyball players, and both femurs of the athletes were greater than those of the sedentary females. In male athletes, all BMD values of the wrestlers, right femur, right forearm and left forearm BMD values of the football players, and right and left forearms BMD values of the handball players were found significantly higher than those of the runners. Left femur and both forearms BMD’ s of the wrestlers and right and left forearms BMD’ s of the football players were greater than those of the basketball players. In addition, left forearm BMD of the wrestlers were found greater than that of the volleyball players. Lumbar spine and left femur BMD’ s of the female volleyball players were significantly greater than those of the female basketball players. The differences between running and the other branches in male athletes were not reported in females. Female runners have been exercising more frequent and regular than other female athletes. This results have showed that exercise, especially impact, and regular and continuous, have significant effect on BMD.