title: Long-distance running, bone density, and osteoarthritis.
abstract: Forty-one long-distance runners aged 50 to 72 years were compared with 41 matched community controls to examine associations of repetitive, long-term physical impact (running) with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Roentgenograms of hands, lateral lumbar spine, and knees were assessed without knowledge of running status. A computed tomographic scan of the first lumbar vertebra was performed to quantitate bone mineral content. Runners, both male and female, have approximately 40% more bone mineral than matched controls. Female runners, but not male runners, appear to have somewhat more sclerosis and spur formation in spine and weight-bearing knee x-ray films, but not in hand x-ray films. There were no differences between groups in joint space narrowing, crepitation, joint stability, or symptomatic osteoarthritis. Running is associated with increased bone mineral but not, in this cross-sectional study, with clinical osteoarthritis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011859:Radiography; D012420:Running; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals