RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High bone mineral density in loaded skeletal regions of former professional football (soccer) players: what is the effect of time after active career?
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 154
OP 157
DO 10.1136/bjsm.2003.011494
VO 39
IS 3
A1 K Uzunca
A1 M Birtane
A1 G Durmus-Altun
A1 F Ustun
YR 2005
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/39/3/154.abstract
AB Objectives: Physical exercise is an important factor in the acceleration and maintenance of bone mineral density (BMD). Football is an impact loading sport and some studies demonstrate its site specific, bone mass increasing effect. We compared BMD at different skeletal regions in a group of former professional football players and in normal control subjects and evaluated the effect of demographic factors and time after active career on BMD. Methods: Twenty four former football players <70 years old who had retired from professional football at least 10 years previously and 25 non-athletic controls were recruited. The demographic characteristics, activity levels, and dietary habits of all subjects and the chronological history of the footballers’ professional careers were noted. BMD was measured by DEXA at the calcaneus and distal tibia and at the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and distal and proximal radius, and compared between groups. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the probable predictors of BMD in former football players. Results: In former players BMD values were found to be significantly higher at the lumbar spine, femur neck, femur trochanter, distal tibia, and calcaneus, but not at Ward’s triangle (femur) or the distal and proximal radius regions compared with controls. Time after active career was the only independent predictor of BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femur (neck, trochanter, and Ward’s triangle), and distal tibia. Conclusions: Former footballers had higher BMD at weight loaded sites and time after active career seemed to be an important factor in determining BMD.