Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 49, No 2, June, 2010
UDK 61
ISSN 0365-4478(Printed version)
ISSN 1821-2794(Online)
 

Correspondence to: Borislav Obradović
Fakultet sporta i fizičkog vaspitanja
Univerzitet u Novom Sadu,
Lovćenska 16, 21000 Novi Sad, Srbija
e-mail: boriscons@yahoo.com

Original article
UDC: 796-053.5:616.718.7:616-073

CALCANEAL MINERAL DENSITY IN CHILDREN ATHLETES AND TAKE-OFF LEG

 
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia¹
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Serbia²
Institute for Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation of Rheumatic and Cardiovascular Diseases "Niška Banja", Niška Banja, Serbia³ Pharmacy Niš, Serbia⁴
Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Serbia⁵
Health Centre in Niš, Serbia⁶

It is well-known that physical activity has an anabolic effect on the bone tissue. To examine the influence of the take-off lower limb to the bone density we studied a group of prepubertal boys and girls at the initial phase of their peak bone mass acquisition. A sample consisted of 60 subjects ie., 32 soccer players (boys, 10.7±0.5 years old) and 28 swimmers (15 girls and 13 boys, 10.8±0.8 years old), who had performed at least one year of high-level sport training (10-15 hours per week for soccer players, 8-12 hours per week for swimmers). The sample was divided into two groups: the first consisted of 40 subjects, with the left take-off leg, while the second consisted of 20 subjects, with the right take-off leg. The bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of the left and the right calcaneus were performed using ultrasound densitometer “Sahara” (Hologic, Inc., MA, USA). There were no significant differences between the groups in regard to BUA and SOS of both the left and the right take-off lower legs. Mean BUA of the take-off left leg and the take-off right leg were different, but not significantly (p>.05). Likewise, mean SOS of the take-off left leg and the take-off right leg were different, but it was not significant (p>.05). The results do not indicate that the take-off lower limb has an influence on calcaneal bone mineral density. Acta Medica Medianae 2010;49(2):25-28.

Key words: bone density, ultrasonography, athletes, children