Impact Sports Increase Bone Strength In Senior Athletes

May 10, 2009

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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 , 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. 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.

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