Lumbar spine, hip and forearm bone mineral density in a group of Lebanese professional football players

Abstract

Introduction The aim of this study was to explore the effects of football practice on lumbar spine, proximal femur and forearm bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy men aged 18 to 30 years. Summary of facts This study included 25 Lebanese professional football players (aged 18 to 30 years). Weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated. BMD of the lumbar spine (L2–L4), the total hip (TH), the femoral neck (FN) and the total forearm was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD values were converted to T-scores. Peak BMD was provided by the densitometer's software. In this group, mean T-scores were 0.16, 1.39, 1.37 and −1.11 for the lumbar spine, the TH, the FN and the total forearm respectively. Conclusion This study suggests that football practice is associated with an increased BMD at the TH but a decreased BMD at the forearm in adult males.