A Comparison of Bone Mineral Density in Lumbar Spines and Femoral Bone between Professional Soccer Players and Non-Athlete Subjects

The purpose of this study was to compare the bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar spines and femoral bone between professional soccer players and non-athlete subjects. Fifteen professional soccer players (mean±SD age: 23.26±0.29 years, height: 174±1.07 cm, weight: 70.33±1.8 Kg, BMI: 23.1±0.4) and fourteen healthy inactive students (mean±SD age: 22 years, height: 173±1.2 cm, weight: 61.64±2.4 kg, BMI: 20.3±0.6) participated in this study. All soccer players and control group were free of any illnesses such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, cardiovascular disease and did not take any medication. The activity levels and dietary habits of all subjects were noted. BMD was measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) at the femoral neck, femoral trochanter of both legs and lumber spines. The participants did not report any anti-seizure drugs, alcohol and cortone consumption and smoking cigarettes. Paired sample t-test, independent t-test and Pearson correlation were used to analyze the data. Bone mineral density in femoral bone and lumbar spines of soccer players were higher than those of non-athlete subjects (T=8.49, P=0.000), (T=7.19, P=0.000), (1311.5 and 1332.1 versus 941.3 and 1054.1 mg/cm2). Also, bone mineral density in lumbar spines of non-athlete subjects were significantly higher than their femoral bone (T=4, P=0.001), (1054.1 versus 941.3 mg/cm2). It seems that weight bearing is the most important factor to improve bone mineral density in lower limbs, while imposing stress on bone by muscle activity can play a role in improving BMD.