Does soccer practice influence compressive strength, bending strength, and impact strength indices of the femoral neck in young men?

Abstract

The incidence of hip fractures increases with age in men (1,2). Hip fractures are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates (1,2). Moreover, previous studies have shown a higher mortality after hip fracture in men than women (1,2). Hernandez et al (3) showed that peak bone mineral density (BMD) attained at the third decade may be the single most important factor for the prevention of osteoporosis later in life. It is well established that peak BMD is influenced by several factors, such as genetics, nutrition, hormones, ethnicity, and mechanical factors (3–7).