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Int J Sports Med 2025; 46(01): 59-65
DOI: 10.1055/a-2393-3391
Orthopedics & Biomechanics

The Influence of Adolescent Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density among Adult Runners

Nodoka Ikegami
1   Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Akiko Hatsukari 
2   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Toshinao Kamikubo
1   Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Ryota Yamamoto
1   Graduate School of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Toshiharu Tsutsui 
2   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
,
Suguru Torii
2   Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University – Tokorozawa, Japan
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Abstract

This study aimed to determine the influence of sport type and training volume during adolescence on low bone mineral density (BMD) in long-distance runners. In total, 125 competitive long-distance runners (64 males; 21.3±4.2 years, 61 females; 21.4±3.1 years) participated in this retrospective cohort study. We collected training history data during adolescence using a questionnaire and measured BMD of the lumbar spine and whole body using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Male runners with low BMD ran for more hours (p=0.02) and had a smaller proportion of multidirectional loading activity (p=0.03) in elementary school than those with normal BMD. Although female runners with low BMD performed multidirectional activity for more hours in middle school than those with normal BMD (p=0.01), running volume was similar between groups. There was an increasing trend in the total number of hours of physical activity in middle school in female runners with low BMD (p=0.05). These results suggest that avoiding specialization in long-distance running, increasing the proportion of multidirectional sports, and preventing overload during the bone growth phase may reduce the risk of low BMD among runners.

Keywords

bone health - bone stress injuries - impact loading - amenorrhea - overload


Publication History

Received: 22 May 2024

Accepted: 14 August 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
19 August 2024

Article published online:
08 October 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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