Effects of repetitive loading on the growth‐induced changes in bone mass and cortical bone geometry: A 12‐month study in pre/peri‐ and postmenarcheal tennis players

• Published in: Journal of bone and mineral research 2011-06, Vol.26 (6), p.1321-1329
• Main Authors: Ducher, Gaele, Bass, Shona L, Saxon, Leanne, Daly, Robin M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anthropometry; Athletes; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology; Bone and Bones - physiology; Bone Density - physiology; Bone Development - physiology; Child; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth and Development; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mechanical Loading; Menarche - physiology; Organ Size - physiology; Physical Education and Training; Puberty; Skeleton and joints; Tennis - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Vertebrates: osteoarticular system, musculoskeletal system; Weight-Bearing - physiology
• ISSN: 0884-0431; 1523-4681
• DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.323

Pre‐ and early puberty may be the most opportune time to strengthen the female skeleton, but there are few longitudinal data to support this claim. Competitive female premenarcheal (pre/peri, n = 13) and postmenarcheal (post, n = 32) tennis players aged 10 to 17 years were followed over 12 months. The osteogenic response to loading was studied by comparing the playing and nonplaying humeri for dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral content (BMC) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) total bone area (ToA), medullary area (MedA), cortical area (CoA), and muscle area (MCSA) at the humerus. Over 12 months, growth‐induced gains (nonplaying arm) in BMC, ToA, and CoA were greater in pre/peri (10% to 19%, p