Inter-arm asymmetry in bone mineral content and bone area in postmenopausal recreational tennis players.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether long-term recreational tennis participation is associated with increased bone and muscle mass in the dominant compared to the non-dominant arm, in postmenopausal tennis players.


METHODS
Dual-energy X-ray whole body scans were performed in 10 postmenopausal tennis players (mean +/- S.D.; 59.7 +/- 4.8 years) and 12 postmenopausal non-active women (62.8 +/- 7.2 years) matched for age and height. Tennis players started in this sport at 31.4 +/- 8.8 years, and had been playing for 26.8 +/- 6.8 years, at least 3 h per week. In addition, shoulder isokinetic muscular strength was also evaluated.


RESULTS
Tennis participation resulted in a lower whole mass and fat mass in both arms (P < 0.05). Dominant arm muscle mass and shoulder joint isokinetic strength were essentially similar in both groups, however, the tennis players showed 8% greater bone mineral content and 7% greater osseous area in the dominant than in the non-dominant arm (P < 0.05). No inter-arm differences were found in bone mineral density. A relationship was observed between the length of tennis participation and the degree of inter-arm asymmetry in bone mineral content (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and bone area (r = 0.78, P < 0.01). However, the BMD of the arms was essentially similar in both groups. No differences were observed in femoral and lumbar bone mass and density between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term tennis participation is associated with increased bone mass, but not BMD, in the dominant arm of postmenopausal tennis players. The magnitude of the inter-arm asymmetry of postmenopausal tennis players is proportional to the length of tennis participation.
Sanchis-Moysi
J
J
Departament of Physical Education, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Dorado
C
C
Vicente-Rodríguez
G
G
Milutinovic
L
L
Garces
G L
GL
Calbet
J A L
JA
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001823:Body Composition; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology; D013715:Tennis / Q000502:physiology*