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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(08): 729-739
DOI: 10.1055/a-1810-6774
Training & Testing

Modelling Changes in Bone and Body Composition Over a Season in Elite Male Footballers

Ian Varley
1   Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
,
Marcus Ward
1   Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
,
Chris Thorpe
2   Al Duhail Sports Club, Al Duhail Sports Club, Doha, Qatar
,
Nathan Beardsley
3   England Rugby, England Rugby, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Julie Greeves
4   Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, Andover, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Craig Sale
1   Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
,
Chris Saward
1   Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
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Abstract

This study investigated the change in bone and body composition characteristics of elite football players and recreationally active control participants across the course of a season. Fortysix participants (20 footballers and 26 recreationally active controls) were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography for a range of bone and body composition characteristics at four points over the course of a competitive season. Multilevel modelling was used to examine changes. Footballers had higher characteristics than controls for 24 out of 29 dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography variables (all p<0.05). However, there was also significant random inter-individual variation in baseline values for all variables, for both footballers and controls (p < 0.05). Wholebody bone mineral density, leg and whole-body bone mineral content, tibial bone mass and area (38%) increased across the season in footballers (p < 0.05), and there was significant random inter-individual variation in the rate of increase of leg and whole-body bone mineral content (p<0.05). Whole-body bone mineral density, leg and whole-body bone mineral content, tibial bone mass and area (38%) increased over the course of the season in elite football players. The modelling information on expected changes in bone characteristics provides practitioners with a method of identifying those with abnormal bone response to football training and match-play

Key words

bone - exercise - football


Publication History

Received: 14 October 2021

Accepted: 14 March 2022

Article published online:
06 May 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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