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SKELETAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ELITE DIVISION I CROSS-COUNTRY AND TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES AND CONTROLS

Abstract

Shawn Allen, Allen Redinger, Nicholas Spokely, Sloane Montgomery, Mia Young and Breanne Baker

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK

Previous studies suggest cross country and track and field (XC+T&F) athletes experience site specific bone mineral density (aBMD) and content (BMC) changes in the lower limbs but have yet to describe if these adaptations are site-specific, if these translate to the upper body, and if they are greater than non-athletes. PURPOSE: To compare total body and site-specific bone measures using Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) between XC+T&F athletes and physically active controls. METHODS: Thirty NCAA Division I XC+T&F athletes (n=21 female; n=9 male) were matched for sex, age (±2 years), and weight (±2.5kg) to controls who exercises >3x/week. First, all participants completed informed consents, training, injury, sleep, and menstrual questionnaires and second underwent total body, lumbar spine (L1-L4), dual hip DXA scans. Independent t-test were used to compare differences between groups, Cohen’s d was used to convey effect size, and α=0.05. RESULTS: Controls were well-matched as ages and anthropometrics were equivalent (all p≥0.222). However, all aBMD, BMC, and Z-score measures in the lower body (left and right femoral neck, greater trochanter, total hip) were significantly greater in XC+T&F than controls, even after controlling for left/right leg lean mass (all p≤0.025, d≥0.80; Figure 1 - right). In contrast, all aBMD, BMC, and Z-score measures in the upper body (spine, ribs, left/right arms) were similar between groups (all p≥0.060; Figure 1 – middle). The lower body bone differences drove total body scores as XC+T&F had significantly greater total aBMD and Z-scores (both p≤0.006, d≥0.70; Figure 1 – left) and total BMC was trending (p=0.052). CONCLUSION: These data suggests that bone adaptations to mechanical loading from XC+T&F participation do not translate to the upper body; but lower body bone adaptations exceed those of physically active controls.

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