Bone density gain at proximal phalanges in healthy males aged 18-25 years after 16 weeks of upper-arm muscle weight training.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an upper-arm muscle weight training (WT) protocol over 16 weeks on bone density at the proximal phalanges in young healthy men.


METHODS
Fifty-one healthy volunteer men were selected, 16 for an experimental group and 35 for a control group. The experimental group was submitted to the prescribed WT protocol to develop the strength of upper arm muscles, during 16 weeks, at a frequency of 3 times per week for approximately 60 min per session. Anthropometric data (weight, height, body mass index, corrected mid upper-arm circumference [cMUAC], and percentage of upper-arm muscle mass [%UAMM]) and bone density by quantitative ultrasound (DBM Sonic BP, IGEA, Italy) at proximal phalanges (amplitude dependent speed of sound [AD-SoS], T-score, %T-score) were evaluated on non-dominant limb before the beginning of the study (T0) and after 16 weeks (T1).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences among all variables at T0 and T1 in the control group, nor at T0 between both groups. In the experimental group, cMUAC, %UAMM, AD-SoS, T-score and %T-score were significantly higher at T1 in relation to T0, as well as between T1 of the experimental group and T1 of the control group (all with P<0.0001). The gain of %T-score showed a correlation between cMUAC gain (P=0.005) and %UAMM gain (P=0.002). The experimental group showed 7% of bone mass gain.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggested that a WT protocol to develop strength of upper arm muscles over 16 weeks was effective for increasing bone density at the proximal phalanges in healthy young men.
Bagrichevsky
M
M
Department of Pediatrics, Medical Sciences School, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Martins-Filho
J
J
Guerra-Junior
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology*