The Comparison of BMC, BMD, T score, and Z score of the Lumbar Spine and Femur between Professional Swimmers and Non- athletes

Research in Exercise and Sports Medicine

دوره 4، شماره 2، بهمن 2013، صفحه 18-24   

نوع مقاله: Original Article

چکیده

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between bone mineral content (BMC), 
bone mineral density (BMD), T score, and Z score of the lumbar spine and femur in professional swimmers 
and their non-athlete male counterparts. 
Material and Methods: This investigation was a comparative, cause-effect study. 17 professional, male 
swimmers from Iran’s national swimming team (age 23.59±2.34 yr, height 176.76±6.68 cm, weight 
68.70±7.40 kg, swimming background 10±2.5 yr) and 17 non-athlete, healthy males (age 25.83±2.59 yr, height 
168.94±8.06 cm, weight 65.84±9.69 kg) participated in this study. Data were evaluated using BMC and BMD 
assessing device, Dual energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). A medical history questionnaire was also filled 
out for each participant by a specialist physician. In this research bone density of femur and second to fourth 
lumbar vertebrae were evaluated. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential (T-test) statistics (p≤0/05) 
and was done using SPSS-16 software.
Results: Results from the present study showed that BMC and BMD of femur, BMC, BMD, T score, and Z 
score of lumbar vertebrae did not differ significantly in professional swimmers and non-athletes (P > 0.05); 
while T score and Z score of femur were significantly different between professional swimmers and nonathletes (P < 0.05). 
Discussion and Conclusion: Results of this research clarified that exercise and sport activity, on their own, 
cannot be an effective factor in increasing BMC and BMD; and that, type of the exercise and the way it is 
performed may probably be counted as significant factors in professional swimmers' BMC and BMD.
Accordingly, in order to increase their BMC and BMD and to prevent osteopenia or osteoporosis in old age, it 
is recommended to professional swimmers to try other physical activities such as weight-bearing exercises, 
choose appropriate methods of exercising, and use a balanced diet supplemented with calcium and dairy 
products.

کلیدواژه‌ها

BMC؛ BMD؛ T score؛ Z score؛ Swimming