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Football decreases risk factors for bone fractures

Authors

Helge EW, Aagaard P, Jakobsen MD, Sundstrup E, Randers MB, Karlsson MK and Krustrup P

Abstract

The present intervention was designed to investigate whether a 14-week period of recreational association football (F) or endurance running (R) has an effect on the risk of falls and bone fractures due to gains in muscle function and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD). Fifty healthy untrained Danish premenopausal women were randomised into two training groups (F; R) that trained respectively 1.8±0.3 (±SD) and 1.9±0.3 hours per week and those groups were compared with an inactive control group (C).

Jumping and dynamic muscle strength were tested and tibial vBMD was measured using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Total vBMD in left and right tibia increased by 2.6±2.3% and 2.1±1.8% (p<0.005) respectively in F and by 0.7±1.3% (p=0.05) and 1.1±1.5% (p<0.01) respectively in R without any significant changes in C. Similar results were found for trabecular vBMD.

In F, peak jump power increased by 3±6% (p<0.05), and hamstring strength during fast (240⁰s-1) and slow (30⁰s-1) contractions increased by 11±25% and 9±21% respectively (p<0.05) without any significant changes in R or C. In conclusion, 14 weeks of recreational football improved peak jump power, maximal hamstring strength and vBMD in the distal tibia, suggesting a decreased fracture risk due to stronger bones and a reduced risk of falling.

Discussion

This is the first intervention study conducted in adult premenopausal women that compares the effects of recreational football training or running training on volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), mechanical muscle performance, and postural balance. As the major finding in the study, increased vBMD in the distal tibia was observed following 14 weeks of football training, which was accompanied by substantial increases in lower extremity muscle mass, maximal dynamic hamstring strength and maximal jump power.

The increases in vBMD were only significant at site 1, the most distal measuring site, 4% proximal to the reference line. Together with the observed improvement in postural balance these data indicate a decreased fracture risk due to stronger bones and a reduced risk of falling. Tibial vBMD at site 2 and 3, 14% and 38% proximal to the reference line respectively, were observed to remain unaffected after training, which might be due to an attenuation of the ground reaction forces at bone sites more proximal to the impact point (the foot-ground contact area) along with shock absorption in the trabecular bone structures. It may therefore be hypothesised that a longer intervention period might result in increased vBMD in more proximal bone regions as well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 14 weeks of football training improved vBMD in the distal tibia and led to substantial gains in lower leg muscle mass, maximal dynamic hamstring muscle strength, jump height, jump power and improved postural balance. Taken together these findings suggest a decreased fracture risk due to stronger bones and a reduced risk of falling. The overall adaptive impact of recreational football seemed to exceed that of endurance running

More information: Peter Krustrup