Comparison of bone mineral content and area between professional soccer players and non-athlete subjects

The purpose of this study was to compare the bone mineral content (BMC) and area between professional soccer players and non-athlete subjects.

15 professional soccer players (mean ± SD; age: 23.2±0.2 years, height: 174±1cm, weight: 70.3±1.8 kg) and 14 healthy non-athlete subjects (mean ± SD; age: 22 years, height: 173±1.2 cm, weight: 61.6±2.4 kg) participated in this study. Bone area and BMC was measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at the femoral neck, femoral trochanter of dominant and non-dominant legs. Independent t-test was used to analyses the data.

The results of this study showed that. BMC in lumbar spine (L2-L4) of soccer players were significantly higher than lumbar spine (L2-L4) of non-athlete subjects (T=6.6, P=0.000), (68438.8±2170.1 versus 51082.9±1340.2 mg). The BMC values of dominant and non-dominant leg of soccer players (46986.8±1554.6, 1694.8±48575.1 mg) were significantly higher than dominant and non-dominant leg of non-athlete subjects (33414.7±1035.9, 930.8±34070.7 mg), (T=7.1, T=7.3, P=0.000). Differences between area in lumbar spine (L2-L4), dominant and non-dominant leg of participants were not significant (51.2±0.9, 0.7±36.4, 0.7±36.4 cm² versus 48.7±1.1, 0.7±36.2, 0.6±35.5 cm²), (T=1.7, T=1, T=0.14, P>0.0).

The results show that soccer play lead to increase BMC but it cannot effect on bone area. It's noted that the geometry and structure of bone have been increasingly recognized as important risk factors. The longitudinal studies are recommended to clarify the effects of soccer and physical activities on bone formation and its structures.