Bone mineral density in elite adolescent female figure skaters
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Bone mineral density in elite adolescent female figure skaters Kathy Prelack1,2,3*, Johanna Dwyer4,5,6, Paula Ziegler7 and Joseph J Kehayias8
Abstract: Elite adolescent figure skaters must accommodate both the physical demands of competitive training and the accelerated rate of bone growth that is associated with adolescence, in this sport that emphasizes leanness. Although, these athletes apparently have sufficient osteogenic stimuli to mitigate the effects of possible low energy availability on bone health, the extent or magnitude of bone accrual also varies with training effects, which differ among skater disciplines. Purpose: We studied differences in total and regional bone mineral density in 36 nationally ranked skaters among 3 skater disciplines: single, pairs, and dancers. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body and its regions was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Values for total body, spine, pelvis and leg were entered into a statistical mixed regression model to identify the effect of skater discipline on bone mineralization while controlling for energy, vitamin D, and calcium intake. Results: The skaters had a mean body mass index of 19.8 ± 2.1 and % fat mass of 19.2 ± 5.8. After controlling for dietary intakes of energy, calcium, and vitamin D, there was a significant relationship between skater discipline and BMD (p = 0.002), with single skaters having greater BMD in the total body, legs, and pelvis than ice dancers (p < 0.001). Pair skaters had greater pelvic BMD than ice dancers (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Single and pair skaters have greater BMD than ice dancers. The osteogenic effect of physical training is most apparent in single skaters, particularly in the bone loading sites of the leg and pelvis.
Introduction Competitive figure skating is a sport that can be beneficial to bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis in female athletes. Elite female skaters, who often begin before puberty, practice up to 30 hours per week on and off the ice. Their training sessions consist of repetitive, high impact, bone loading activities, which favor bone accretion [1-3]. However competitive figure skating is also a sport which emphasizes leanness for performance enhancement and aesthetic reasons [4]. A decrease in energy availability due to intense physical activity and calorie restriction may lead to amenorrhea, bone demineralization, and stress fractures in these female athletes. [5,6] Adolescent skaters, who attain elite status, may find it particularly challenging to maintain intake * Correspondence: [email protected] 1 Clinical Nutrition, Shriners, Hospitals For Children, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA 2 Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
adequate to support bone growth while controlling their body weight. There are several different disciplines in figure skating, including single and pair sk
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