Research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (2005; 39:282–287) examined the relationship between physical activity and bone mineral density as it relates to osteoporosis risk.
The study compared elite athletes with non-athletic controls. Participants were drawn from a larger pool of 938 athletes and 900 non-athletic controls, with 186 athletes and 145 controls completing the study. Bone mineral density was assessed and compared between the two groups.
Mean bone mineral density was higher in the athletes (1.21 g/cm²) compared with the non-athletic controls (1.18 g/cm²). Athletes participating in high-impact sports demonstrated greater bone density than those involved in low-impact sports.
The researchers also reported that low bone mineral density was two to three times more common in non-athletic premenopausal women than in elite female athletes. Female elite athletes were found to have 3% to 20% greater bone density compared with non-athletes.
These findings are consistent with Wolff’s Law, which states that bone adapts to the mechanical stresses placed upon it. Increased loading and impact stimulate bone remodeling, leading to greater bone mass and strength over time.
