No abstract

Training load had a negative relationship on bone density of swimmers of both sexes, independently of the positive effect of lean soft tissue on bone density.

Background To compare bone density accrual and markers of bone geometry and formation between female adolescents engaged and not engaged in artistic gymnastics (AGs). Methods This was a 12-month longitudinal study involving 20 female adolescents, including 10 controls and 10 gymnasts (AGs) aged 11 to 16 years. At baseline, the gymnasts had a minimum of 12 months of practice, and the controls reported no participation in any organized sport. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in the lower limbs, upper limbs, spine, and whole body. In addition, BMD and geometrical properties of the femur were assessed. As a bone formation marker, osteocalcin level was measured. Results Femoral aspects were increased in the gymnasts by 19% ( P =0.009), 14% ( P =0.047), and 10% ( P =0.046) in the Ward's triangle, trochanter, and the overall bone, respectively, than in the control girls. Geometrical parameters, bone accrual, and osteocalcin levels were similar in both groups. The weekly training load explained 30.8% of all bone gains on the lower limbs and affected the density on parts of the femur. Conclusions The gymnasts, after a 12-month follow-up, demonstrated a higher BMD in the Ward's triangle and whole femur than the controls, as well as an improvement in femur density. These changes were mainly due to the weekly training load. Lastly, the gymnasts had significant bone accrual (after 12 months) in the upper limbs, lower limbs, and whole body.

Considering the different loading and training characteristics of the sports practiced during growth, it is important to specify and categorize the bone and soft tissue adaptations in adolescent athletes. This study aimed to categorize ten different loading sports and a non-sport group and identify the differences in bone density and soft tissues. Methods: The sample included 625 adolescents (10 to 17 years of age) of ten sports (soccer, basketball, volleyball, track & field, judo, karate, kung-fu, gymnastics, baseball and swimming) and a non-sport group. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry assessed areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) and soft tissues (lean soft tissue and fat mass). The results were adjusted for sex, peak height velocity (PHV) status, lean soft tissue, fat mass and weekly training volume. Results:The comparisons among groups showed that soccer had the highest whole body aBMD (mean  SEM: 1.082 g/cm 2  0.007) and lower limbs aBMD (1.302g/cm 2  0.010). Gymnastics presented the highest upper limbs (0.868 g/cm 2  0.012) and whole body BMAD (0.094 g/cm 2  0.001). Swimming presented the lowest aBMD values in all skeletal sites (except at the upper limbs) and whole body BMAD. The soft tissue comparisons showed that soccer had the highest lean soft tissue (43.8 kg  0.7). The lowest fat mass was found in gymnastics (8.04 kg  1.0). Conclusion: The present study investigated and categorised for the first time ten different sports according to bone density and soft tissue profiles. Soccer and gymnastics sport groups found to have the highest bone density in most body segments and both sports were among the groups with the lowest fat mass.

BackgroundThe practice of swimming in "hypogravity" conditions has potential to decrease bone formation because it decreases the time engaged in weight-bearing activities usually observed in the daily activities of adolescents. Therefore, adolescents competing in national levels would be more exposed to these deleterious effects, because they are engaged in long routines of training during most part of the year. To analyze the effect of swimming on bone mineral density (BMD) gain among adolescents engaged in national level competitions during a 9-month period.MethodsFifty-five adolescents; the control group contained 29 adolescents and the swimming group was composed of 26 athletes. During the cohort study, BMD, body fat (BF) and fat free mass (FFM) were assessed using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner. Body weight was measured with an electronic scale, and height was assessed using a stadiometer.ResultsDuring the follow-up, swimmers presented higher gains in FFM (Control 2.35 kg vs. Swimming 5.14 kg; large effect size [eta-squared (ES-r)=0.168]) and BMD-Spine (Swimming 0.087 g/cm2 vs. Control 0.049 g/cm2; large effect size [ES-r=0.167]) compared to control group. Male swimmers gained more FFM (Male 10.63% vs. Female 3.39%) and BMD-Spine (Male 8.47% vs. Female 4.32%) than females. Longer participation in swimming negatively affected gains in upper limbs among males (r=-0.438 [-0.693 to -0.085]), and in spine among females (r=-0.651 [-0.908 to -0.036]).ConclusionsOver a 9-month follow-up, BMD and FFM gains were more evident in male swimmers, while longer engagement in swimming negatively affected BMD gains, independently of sex.

Background Training volume is associated with direct and indirect pathways of bone adaptations. In addition, training volume is a training variable associated with lean soft tissue (LST), which has been shown to be an important predictor of areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the influential role of lean soft tissue (LST) in the association between training volume and aBMD in male adolescent athletes. Methods This cross-sectional study was composed of 299 male adolescent athletes, mean age 14.1 (1.8) years, from 9 different weight-bearing modalities. The Ethical Board approved the investigation. The adolescents reported the number of days per week they trained and the time spent training and, from this, the training volume (h/wk) was estimated. The LST and aBMD were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Somatic maturation was estimated by the peak of height velocity. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the role of LST in the association between training volume and aBMD. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results LST partially explained the association between training volume and aBMD in all body segments: upper limbs (58.37%; β = 0.00142), lower limbs (28.35%; β = 0.00156), spine (33.80%; β = 0.00124), and whole body (41.82%, β = 0.00131). There was no direct effect of training volume on aBMD in upper limbs (CI -0.00085 to 0.00287). Conclusion: The association between training volume and aBMD is influenced by LST in different body segments, mainly upper limbs, demonstrating that interventions aiming to enhance aBMD should also consider LST as an important variable to be managed.

This study investigated the association of impact and non-impact sports on bone mineral density accrual in adolescents for 18 months. The impact sports were beneficial for the bone health (accrual of bone density), on the other hand, swimmers had similar and lower bone mineral density compared to the control group.

No abstract