Findings from a 10-year follow-up of bone mineral density in competitive perimenopausal runners.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in perimenopausal competitive runners with long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Fifteen master female runners between 40 and 50 years old who ran at least 20 miles per week were evaluated. BMD was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at baseline and at the 10-year follow-up.


RESULTS
The median age was 46 and median miles run per week, 25. At baseline, after a median of 11 years of competitive running, hip BMD was above peak bone mass (T-score = 0.8) and that of age-matched controls (Z-score = 1.6), while lumbar spine BMD was below peak bone mass (T-score = -0.8) and equal to that of age-matched controls (Z-score = -0.1). At the 10-year follow-up, hip BMD fell below peak bone mass (T-score = -0.2, p = 0.0004) but was still above that of age-matched controls (Z-score = 0.5, p = 0.002), while there was little change in lumbar spine BMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Competitive running prior to the perimenopausal period seems to be associated with improved hip BMD. However, continued competitive running during the perimenopausal period is not associated with prevention of a perimenopausal hip BMD decline. In contrast, competitive running had little effect on peri-menopausal lumbar spine BMD.
Fanning
James
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Summa Health System, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Akron, OH 44309, USA. fanningj@summa-health.org
Larrick
Lori
L
Weinstein
Louis
L
Horrigan
Terrence J
TJ
Marcotte
Michael P
MP
Flora
Robert F
RF
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D047648:Perimenopause; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires