Changes of Lower Limb Bone Mineral Density in Division I Female Athletes During an Athletic Season

Bone mineral density (BMD) from dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides bone health information. BMD monitoring in collegiate athletes may be beneficial for performance and overall bone health. Currently, there is limited information regarding BMD among female Division I athletes, with no studies tracking pre- to postseason dominant and non-dominant limb BMD in this demographic. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in lower limb BMD in this population from pre- to postseason.

Sixty-four participants (field hockey, soccer, and volleyball) were included in this analysis. Preseason DXA scans were completed before the start of the athletic season and postseason was on average collected 126.5 ± 13.4 days after. A full-body DXA scan was completed, and dominant and non-dominant lower limb BMD values were utilized in the statistical analysis. A 2×2 ANCOVA was conducted with sport type set as a covariate.

Preseason (age: 20.4±1.56 years, height: 168.0±7.2 cm, weight: 66.0±9.4 kg) lower limb BMD was not significantly different from postseason. The interaction between time and limb (F₁,₆₁=0.09, p=0.76) was not significant. No significant main effects were seen for time (F₁,₆₁ =0.80, p=0.38). There was a significant main effect for limb (F₁,₆₁=4.45, p=0.04).

No significant changes were seen in lower limb BMD from pre- to postseason in female athletes, a significant difference was observed between the dominant and non-dominant limb. BMD monitoring is important to preserve bone health and future research should explore BMD changes over multiple seasons to assess potential sport-specific or cumulative effects.