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

Ian Varley; Marcus Ward; Chris Thorpe; Nathan Beardsley; Julie Greeves; Craig Sale; Chris Saward

doi:10.1055/a-1810-6774

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

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

¹Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

,

Marcus Ward

¹Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

,

Chris Thorpe

²Al Duhail Sports Club, Al Duhail Sports Club, Doha, Qatar

,

Nathan Beardsley

³England Rugby, England Rugby, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

,

Julie Greeves

⁴Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, Andover, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

,

Craig Sale

¹Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

,

Chris Saward

¹Department of Sport Science, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement (SHAPE) Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

› Author Affiliations

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

Full Text

References

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