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Related Concept Videos

The Bone Matrix01:18

The Bone Matrix

Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in acid or...
Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
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Essential Minerals for Bone Health01:31

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Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
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Spongy Bone01:09

Spongy Bone

All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the bone).
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Body Water Content and Fluid Compartments01:19

Body Water Content and Fluid Compartments

Life's biochemical processes occur within aqueous solutions. Solutes are substances that are dissolved within these solutions. The human body contains a variety of solutes, which can differ across various body parts. These can encompass proteins—such as those responsible for clotting and carbohydrate transport—as well as electrolytes. In medicine, an electrolyte is often described as a mineral ion derived from a salt possessing an electric charge. Examples include sodium ions (Na+) and chloride...

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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

[Bone density in swimmers].

G Radetti1, S Frizzera, C Castellan

  • 1Divisione Pediatrica, Ospedale Regionale di Bolzano, Italia.

La Pediatria Medica E Chirurgica : Medical and Surgical Pediatrics
|September 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Competitive swimmers do not show increased bone density in their forearms compared to non-athletes. Swimming training does not appear to provide sufficient mechanical load to enhance bone mineral density.

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Area of Science:

  • Sports Medicine
  • Bone Physiology
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • Bone mineral density (BMD) is crucial for skeletal health and is influenced by mechanical loading.
  • Athletes in high-impact sports often exhibit higher BMD, but the effects of non-weight-bearing activities like swimming are less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether competitive swimming training influences bone mineral density (BMD) in the non-dominant forearm.
  • To compare forearm BMD in elite male swimmers with age-matched controls.

Main Methods:

  • Bone mineral density (BMD) of the non-dominant forearm was measured using single-photon absorptiometry at proximal (PBMD) and distal (DBMD) sites.
  • Measurements were taken from 9 competitive male swimmers (18-23 years) with extensive training history and 25 age-matched healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences in proximal bone mineral density (PBMD) were observed between swimmers (0.57 +/- 0.02 g/cm2) and controls (0.57 +/- 0.05 g/cm2).
  • Similarly, no significant differences were found in distal bone mineral density (DBMD) between swimmers (0.45 +/- 0.02 g/cm2) and controls (0.45 +/- 0.03 g/cm2).

Conclusions:

  • Swimming training, even at a high level, does not appear to stimulate bone formation or increase forearm bone mineral density.
  • The aquatic environment, lacking significant gravitational impact, may not provide the necessary mechanical stimuli to enhance bone density in athletes.