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Tibial and Fibular Mid-Shaft Bone Traits in Young and Older Sprinters and Non-Athletic Men

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Abstract

High impact loading is known to prevent some of the age-related bone loss but its effects on the density distribution of cortical bone are relatively unknown. This study examined the effects of age and habitual sprinting on tibial and fibular mid-shaft bone traits (structural, cortical radial and polar bone mineral density distributions). Data from 67 habitual male sprinters aged 19–39 and 65–84 years, and 60 non-athletic men (referents) aged 21–39 and 65–80 years are reported. Tibial and fibular mid-shaft bone traits (strength strain index SSI, cortical density CoD, and polar and radial cortical density distributions) were assessed with peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for height and body mass indicated that the sprinters had 21 % greater tibial SSI (P < 0.001) compared to the referents, with no group × age-group interaction (P = 0.54). At the fibula no group difference or group × age-group interaction was identified (P = 0.12–0.81). For tibial radial density distribution ANCOVA indicated no group × radial division (P = 0.50) or group × age-group × division interaction (P = 0.63), whereas an age × radial division interaction was observed (P < 0.001). For polar density distribution, no age-group × polar sector (P = 0.21), group × polar sector (P = 0.46), or group × age-group × polar sector interactions were detected (P = 0.15). Habitual sprint training appears to maintain tibial bone strength, but not radial cortical density distribution into older age. Fibular bone strength appeared unaffected by habitual sprinting.

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Acknowledgments

The Academy of Finland (250683, 253198), Ministry of Education and Culture, KELA (Dnro 34/26/2011). Dr Rantalainen was supported by a Grant from Emil Aaltonen Foundation during the preparation of the mansucript.

Conflict of Interest

All authors state that they have no conflicts of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the ethical comittee of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland responsible on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Timo Rantalainen, Harri Suominen, Ari Heinonen & Markku Alén

  2. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3125, Australia

    Timo Rantalainen & Rachel L. Duckham

  3. Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Oulu University Hospital and Institute of Health Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

    Markku Alén

  4. Department of Health Sciences, Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Marko T. Korhonen

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  1. Timo Rantalainen
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  2. Rachel L. Duckham
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Correspondence to Timo Rantalainen.

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Rantalainen, T., Duckham, R.L., Suominen, H. et al. Tibial and Fibular Mid-Shaft Bone Traits in Young and Older Sprinters and Non-Athletic Men. Calcif Tissue Int 95, 132–140 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-014-9881-4

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