Adult female football players have higher lumbar spine and hip bone mineral density than age- and body weight-matched controls

Aim. The aim of this study was to compare lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, total forearm and 1/3 Radius bone mineral density (BMD) in young female football players and age- and body weight- matched female controls (aged 18 to 30 years). Methods. This study included 18 female football players and 22 age- and body weight- matched sedentary females (aged 18 to 30 years). Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Daily calcium intake, daily protein intake and sleep duration were evaluated using validated questionnaires. BMD of the lumbar spine (L2-L4), the total hip (TH), the femoral neck (FN), the total forearm (TF) and the 1/3 Radius was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Results. Height and BMI were not different between the two groups (football players and controls). L2-L4 BMD, TH BMD and femoral neck BMD were significantly higher in football players compared to controls (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning total forearm BMD and 1/3 Radius BMD. Conclusion. This study suggests that, in young adult females, football practice is associated with an increased BMD at the lumbar spine and the total hip but not at the total forearm.