Bone and Muscle Geometry in Female Adolescent Middle-Distance Runners
in Pediatric Exercise ScienceClick name to view affiliation
This study compared tibial bone and muscle geometry and total body and regional bone mineral content (BMC) in elite female adolescent middle-distance runners (n = 20, age: 16 ± 1.7 years) and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 20, 16 ± 1.8 years) using magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Significant advantages were found in athletes compared with controls in bone and muscle geometric values for distal tibial cortical, medullary cavity, distal tibial total muscle and dorsi flexor muscle compartment cross-sectional area, and regional BMC. Results imply mechanical loads associated with middle-distance running might be beneficial to musculoskeletal health in adolescent females.
Greene and Naughton are with the Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan, School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Briody is with the Department Nuclear Medicine, The Children’s Hospital, West-mead; Kemp is with the Department Medical Imaging, The Children’s Hospital, Westmead; Woodhead is with the Department of Endocrinology, The Children’s Hospital, Westmead; Farpour-Lambert is with the Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Geneva.
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