Bone density and body composition in newly licenced professional jockeys

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Orthopedics
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Entry-level jockeys in Great Britain, both male and female, participating in flat or jump racing, were assessed.
• Bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition are critical factors in athletic performance and health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition of newly licensed jockeys.
• To identify potential differences in BMD and body composition based on gender and racing type (flat vs. jump).

Main Methods:

• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were used to assess areal BMD (spine, femoral neck, total hip) and body composition.
• Volumetric bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) was calculated to adjust for bone size variations.
• Data was collected from jockeys applying for licenses between 2013 and 2015.

Main Results:

• Male flat jockeys exhibited significantly lower BMD, lean mass index (LMI), and body fat percentage (BF %) compared to male jump jockeys and female flat jockeys.
• Spine BMD Z-scores indicated low bone density in 29% of male flat jockeys, 13% of male jump jockeys, and 2.7% of female flat jockeys.
• Male flat jockeys had lower spine BMD than female flat jockeys and lower BMD across all sites compared to male jump jockeys.

Conclusions:

• Male flat jockeys present with notably lower BMD, LMI, and BF% than their jump racing counterparts and female flat jockeys.
• Lower spine BMD in male flat jockeys compared to females suggests potential gender-specific physiological differences or influences.
• The findings underscore the need for further research into the health implications of low BMD and altered body composition in jockeys, particularly male flat racers.