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Bone material acquisition and somatic development in highly trained girl gymnasts
D Courteix1, E Lespessailles, C Jaffre
1Laboratory of Muscular Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Orleans University, France. daniel.courteix@univ-orleans.fr
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 30, 1999
Summary
High-impact training in young female gymnasts enhances bone mineral density (BMD) acquisition during peak bone mass development. This training promotes greater annual bone gain at strained sites without negatively impacting overall growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sports Medicine
- Bone Biology
Background:
- Peak bone mass acquisition is crucial for lifelong skeletal health.
- Prepubertal athletes, particularly gymnasts, engage in high-impact activities.
- Understanding the effects of intense training on bone development in young girls is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate skeletal and somatic development in highly trained prepubertal gymnasts.
- To compare bone mineral density (BMD) and growth in gymnasts versus non-exercisers and swimmers.
- To identify predictors of annual BMD changes in young athletes.
Main Methods:
- Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition and BMD measurement.
- Measurements included total body, lumbar spine, hip, and radius BMD.
- Bone age, height, and weight were assessed over a 1-year interval in 14 gymnasts and controls.
Main Results:
- Gymnasts showed higher BMD at most skeletal sites compared to controls.
- Somatic changes were similar, except for height, between groups.
- Lean mass, bone age, and fat mass predicted annual BMD changes.
Conclusions:
- High-volume, impact-loading training promotes greater annual bone mineral acquisition in prepubertal girls.
- Intense training does not adversely affect somatic growth dimensions.
- This suggests a beneficial role of gymnastics training for bone health during a critical developmental period.