title: Influence of endurance running on calcaneal bone stiffness in male and female runners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of endurance running on calcaneus bone stiffness in male and female runners.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 122 marathoners (longer distance runners, men = 101; women = 21) and 81 half-marathon and 10-km runners (shorter distance runners; men = 48; women = 33), competing in an international running event, underwent an ultrasonographic assessment of the right and left calcaneus. Calcaneus bone stiffness was estimated using the measurements of the speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). Seventy-five age-matched sedentary people served as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male and female longer distance runners and shorter distance runners presented higher values than sedentary counterparts in SOS (P < 0.05), and calcaneus stiffness (P < 0.05). Although there were no significant differences between longer distance and shorter distance runners in the ultrasonographic variables, longer distance runners presented greater effects size in SOS (1.00 vs. 0.93 males; 1.10 vs. 0.77 females), BUA (0.62 vs. 0.25 males; 0.89 vs. 0.20 females) and calcaneus stiffness (0.88 vs. 0.66 males; 1.20 vs. 0.60 females) than shorter distance endurance runners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Calcaneus bone stiffness was higher in all endurance runners compared to a sedentary control population. The volume of ground reaction forces which occur during endurance running might induce the adaptation of the calcaneus bone.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Salinero
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Areces
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abián-Vicén
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Vicente
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo-Salazar
authors.affiliation: Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory, Sports Sciences Faculty, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain. jdelcoso@ucjc.edu.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Coso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012420:Running; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Bone mass; Exercise; Mechanical loading; Physical activity; Running training