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Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
BONE MINERAL DENSITY AND BODY COMPOSITION IN ELDERLY RUNNERS: SIX-YEAR FOLLOW-UP
Angelica Castilho Alonso1,2,3, Rita de Cássia Ernandes2, Regina Helena Marques Pereira2
1Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas (HCFMUSP), Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Laboratory of Movement Studies, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Objective:
To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition over a six-year period in elderly long-distance runners.
Methods:
We analyzed the medical records of elderly athletes who were long-distance runners, were participants of the IOT-HCFMUSP Orthogeriatric Group, and had their BMD evaluated between 2001 and 2007; of these athletes, 11 were included in the study. Inclusion criteria: athletes should be long-distance runners, should not stop long-distance running during the six-year period, and should have undergone BMD and body composition evaluations. Body composition was evaluated using bone densitometry with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry with a Lunar-DPX device.
Results:
Over the six-year period, body composition remained stable, but there was a significant increase only in the fat percentage (p = 0.003).
Conclusion:
Long-distance running may maintain BMD but may lead to an increase in the fat percentage in elderly runners.
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