Impact Sports Increase Bone Strength In Senior Athletes

Running, basketball and other
high-impact sports may lead to stronger bones as people age, according to a
new study presented today at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Measurements conducted on senior Olympic
athletes found that the bone mineral density (BMD) for those who
participated in impact sports was significantly greater than athletes who
competed in low-impact sports like swimming and cycling.


"While we know that exercise is vital as we get older, this study finds
that the kind of exercise we choose can be just as important," said Vonda
Wright, MD, lead author and assistant professor in the department of
orthopedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "The
findings show that a key to maintaining strong, healthy bones as we age is
to engage in impact sports."



The study evaluated 298 athletes competing in the 2005 Senior Olympic
Games in Pittsburgh. The athletes, ages 50 to 93, completed a
health-history questionnaire and underwent ultrasound to measure BMD. The
BMD T-score for athletes in the high-impact group was .4+/-1.3 versus
-1+/-1.4 for athletes in the non-high impact group. After controlling for
age, sex, obesity and osteoporosis medication, participation in high-impact
sports was found to be a significant predictor of BMD.



"The costs associated with caring for people with osteoporosis and
fractures caused by frail bones are rising as the population ages," Dr.
Wright concluded. "Our study implies that persistent participation in
impact sports can positively influence bone health even in the oldest
athletes."



Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss affecting 28 million
Americans and contributing to an estimated 1.5 million bone fractures per
year. One in two women and one in five men over age 65 will sustain bone
fractures due to osteoporosis.


American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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