Track and Field Practice and Bone Outcomes among Adolescents: A Pilot Study (ABCD-Growth Study)

Abstract

BackgroundOsteoporosis is considered a public health problem with high worldwide prevalence. One approach to prevention is through the promotion of physical activity, especially exercise, during adolescence.MethodsThis study compared bone variables in different body segments in adolescents according to participation in track and field. The study included 34 adolescents (22 boys), of whom 17 were track and field athletes and 17 were control subjects. Bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm2) and bone mineral content (BMC, g) were analyzed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (total body stratified by body segments). Peak height velocity was used to estimate somatic maturation.ResultsAthletes had higher BMD (P=0.003) and BMC (P=0.011) values in the lower limbs and higher whole body BMD (P=0.025) than the control group. However, when adjusted for confounding factors, the difference was not maintained. The groups had similar lean soft tissue values (P=0.094). Training overload was positively correlated with BMD in the upper limbs (r=0.504; 95% confidence interval, 0.031-0.793). Although track and field athletes had higher BMD and BMC values in the lower limbs, these differences were not significant when adjusted for confounding factors.ConclusionsTrack and field participation in adolescence appears to influence BMD and BMC in lower limbs, and fat-free mass seems to mediate this effect. Also, higher training loads were found to be positive for bone health in upper limbs.

Association between Cluster of Lifestyle Behaviors and HOMA-IR among Adolescents: ABCD Growth Study

“…In this study, no sport participation and skipping breakfast were associated with higher body fatness. Firstly, it was expected that adolescents engaged in sports would present lower body fatness as sports participation usually requires performance of physical exercises at higher intensity, leading to the athlete adolescents presenting lower body adiposity than their peers [30]. Similarly, skipping breakfast was associated with higher body fatness in our study, which is also consistent with previous findings in adolescents [31,32], possibly occurring through appetite regulation mechanisms [33].…”

Impact of Artistic Gymnastics on Bone Formation Marker, Density and Geometry in Female Adolescents: ABCD-Growth Study

“…[7] It is widely disseminated by literature that adolescents who participate on land or gravity sports as basketball, track and field or soccer, present relevant gains on total body BMD compared with other non-weight bearing or hypogravity sports. [89101112] A cross-sectional study proposed by Proctor et al[13] showed that gymnasts presented higher BMD than their control pairs for total body, lumbar spine and right femur.…”

Relationship between the Second to Fourth Finger Length Ratio and Calcaneus Quantitative Ultrasound

“…reported that the levels of biochemical markers peak in the middle of puberty and then decrease in late puberty 4 . There has been some discussion about the relationship between exercise and bone density, including such factors as bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and the stiffness index of the calcaneus by quantitative ultrasound (QUS-SI) 5 – 9 . Regular menstruation is also important for females, as the gonadal hormones, including estrogen, are known to affect the remodeling of bones and reduce their breakdown; indeed, estrogen is administered as a treatment for osteoporosis 10 , 11 .…”