Effect of different collegiate sports on cortical bone in the tibia.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sports participation on cortical bone in the tibia.


METHODS
53 female collegiate athletes (25 cross-country, 16 soccer, and 12 volleyball) and 20 inactive controls had the left distal 20% tibia scanned by pQCT. Cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD) was measured within the cortical shell at the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral regions and standard deviations were calculated.


RESULTS
Total vBMD was greater in the control group (1161±5 mg/mm(3)) than each of the sports (p<0.05). Soccer players (1147±5 mg/mm(3)) had greater vBMD than volleyball players (1136±7 mg/mm(3)) (p<0.05), but similar to cross-country runners (1145±5 mg/mm(3)). Cortical thickness was greatest in soccer players (4.1±0.1 mm), while cross-country and control subjects (3.8±0.1 mm) had greater thickness than volleyball players (3.4±0.1 mm)(p<0.05). Periosteal circumference was greater in volleyball players (71±1.4 mm) than soccer, cross-country, and control subjects (68±0.9, 69±0.8, and 66±1 mm, respectively; all, p<0.05). vBMD variation within the cortical shell was greater among control subjects (70±6 mg/cm(3)) than each of the athlete groups, with soccer players having lower variation than cross country runners (within-in person SD 36±6 mg/cm(3) and 54±5 mg/cm(3) respectively; p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate bone geometry and distribution within the cortical shell of the tibia varies depending upon sporting activities of young women.
EA Martin Program in Human Nutrition, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA. Lee.Weidauer@sdstate.edu
L A
LA
Weidauer
M M
MM
Eilers
T L
TL
Binkley
M D
MD
Vukovich
B L
BL
Specker
D000293:Adolescent; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013977:Tibia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult