Sports Sciences Commons^™

Effect Of Different Collegiate Sports On Cortical Bone In The Tibia, L. A. Weidauer, M. M. Eilers, T. L. Binkley, M. D. Vukovich, B. L. Specker

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sports participation on cortical bone in the tibia. Methods: 53 female collegiate athletes (25 cross-country, 16 soccer, and 12 volleyball) and 20 inactive controls had the left distal 20% tibia scanned by pQCT. Cortical volumetric BMD (vBMD) was measured within the cortical shell at the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral regions and standard deviations were calculated. Results: Total vBMD was greater in the control group (1161±5 mg/mm3) than each of the sports (p<0.05). Soccer players (1147±5 mg/mm3) had greater vBMD than volleyball players (1136±7 mg/mm3) (p<0.05), but similar to cross-country runners (1145±5 mg/mm3). Cortical thickness was greatest in soccer players (4.1±0.1 mm), while cross-country and control subjects (3.8±0.1 mm) had greater thickness than volleyball players (3.4±0.1 mm)(p<0.05). Periosteal circumference was greater in volleyball players (71±1.4 mm) than soccer, cross-country, and control subjects (68±0.9, 69±0.8, and 66±1 mm, respectively; all, p<0.05). vBMD variation within the cortical shell was greater among control subjects (70±6 mg/cm3) than each of the athlete groups, with soccer players having lower variation than cross country runners (within-in person SD 36±6 mg/cm3 and 54±5 mg/cm3 respectively; p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate bone geometry and distribution within the cortical shell of the tibia …