Bone mineral density in weight lifters

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Abstract
The effect of intense physical training on the bone mineral content (BMC) and soft tissue composition, and the development of these values after cessation of the active career, was studied in 40 nationally or internationally ranked male weight lifters. Nineteen were active and 21 had retired from competition sports. Fifty-two age- and sexmatched nonweight lifters served as controls. The bone mineral density (BMD) in total body, spine, hip, and proximal tibial metaphysis was measured with a Lunar Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) apparatus and the BMD of the distal forearm was measured with single photon absorptiometry (SPA). Seventeen of the lifters had been measured earlier with SPA in the forearm and 23 in the tibial condyle during their active career in 1975. The BMD was significantly higher in the weight lifters compared with the controls (10% in the total body PPPPPP<0.01). There was no difference in BMD for any region between active and retired weight lifters that was not explained by difference in age. The weight lifters were on average 5 cm shorter but of the same weight as the controls. In the weight lifters, the body mass index (BMI) was increased as was the lean body mass, but not the fat content.