Differences in leg bone geometry in young, old and very old women

Bone geometry is an important measure of bone strength and is known to be affected by weight-bearing and adult ageing. Engagement in weight-bearing activity decreases with age, thus in this study we compared bone geometry changes between weight-bearing (tibia) and non-weight-bearing (fibula) leg bones in three different age groups of women. Magnetic resonance images of the right leg were acquired in 9 young (20-27 years), 7 old (61-69 years) and 7 very old (71-80 years) women. Total and cortical bone volumes and medullary cavity volumes (mm(3)) were calculated at proximal and distal sites for both bones. Tibial cortical bone volume was significantly less at the proximal site in old (17%) and very old (24%) groups versus young subjects. Cortical bone volume in the proximal fibula was also significantly reduced in the older groups (7 and 12%), but to a substantially lesser extent than in the tibia. In contrast, distal bone geometry appeared largely to be conserved in both tibia and fibula. Proximally, medullary cavity volume was greater in the older groups in the tibia but not the fibula. Distally, the only difference found in either bone was a significantly greater fibular medullary cavity in the very old group. These findings suggest weight-bearing bones in women are more susceptible than non-weight-bearing bones to age-related changes in bone geometry likely due to decreases in weight-bearing activities. Also, weight-bearing activity appears to provide a greater osteogenic stimulus at the distal portions of the leg bones.