A 2-Year Longitudinal Study of Bone Mineral Density in Collegiate Distance Runners

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Medicine
• Bone Health Research

Background:

• Collegiate distance runners may face risks to bone mineral density (BMD) due to intense training.
• Longitudinal data on BMD changes in this population is crucial for understanding long-term skeletal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate 2-year changes in BMD among male and female collegiate distance runners.
• To compare BMD across different skeletal sites and between sexes over time.

Main Methods:

• 29 collegiate distance runners (16 men, 13 women) were assessed five times over 24 months.
• Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measured BMD at the spine, hip, whole body, and forearm.
• Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance, adjusting for bone-free lean mass (BFLM), was employed.

Main Results:

• No significant sex differences in BMD were found after adjusting for BFLM.
• BMD remained stable at the spine, hip, and whole body sites for both sexes over 2 years.
• Males showed a significant BMD increase at the ultradistal forearm, yet 56% had Z-scores below -1.0.
• A concerning percentage of women (7/11) had Z-scores below -1.0 at the lateral spine.

Conclusions:

• While overall BMD showed little change, specific sites like the women's spine and men's forearms warrant attention due to Z-score results.
• Continuous education for collegiate endurance athletes on maintaining BMD is essential.
• The findings highlight the need for targeted monitoring and intervention strategies for bone health in this athletic group.