Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Sports Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Sports Medicine
. 1995 Jun;29(2):85–88. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.29.2.85

Effect of exercise training programme on bone mineral density in novice college rowers.

B Cohen 1, P J Millett 1, B Mist 1, M A Laskey 1, N Rushton 1
PMCID: PMC1332285  PMID: 7551766

Abstract

Exercise has important effects on skeletal mineralization. Changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) as measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry were investigated in a group of 17 male novice college oarsmen over a 7-month period and were compared with eight age-matched controls. The rowing training programme consisted of approximately 8 h rowing, 1 h weight training, and 1 h running per week. After 7 months training the mean BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) had increased significantly by 2.9% (P < 0.001) and the mean BMC had increased by 4.2% (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the control group. Neither group showed a significant change in BMD or BMC in the femoral neck, greater trochanter or Ward's triangle. This study provides further evidence that exercise plays an important role in bone mineral formation.

Full text

PDF
86

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Beverly M. C., Rider T. A., Evans M. J., Smith R. Local bone mineral response to brief exercise that stresses the skeleton. BMJ. 1989 Jul 22;299(6693):233–235. doi: 10.1136/bmj.299.6693.233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bloomfield S. A., Williams N. I., Lamb D. R., Jackson R. D. Non-weightbearing exercise may increase lumbar spine bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1993 Aug;72(4):204–209. doi: 10.1097/00002060-199308000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cavanagh P. R., Davis B. L., Miller T. A. A biomechanical perspective on exercise countermeasures for long term spaceflight. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1992 Jun;63(6):482–485. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cavanaugh D. J., Cann C. E. Brisk walking does not stop bone loss in postmenopausal women. Bone. 1988;9(4):201–204. doi: 10.1016/8756-3282(88)90031-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chow R., Harrison J. E., Notarius C. Effect of two randomised exercise programmes on bone mass of healthy postmenopausal women. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Dec 5;295(6611):1441–1444. doi: 10.1136/bmj.295.6611.1441. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Colletti L. A., Edwards J., Gordon L., Shary J., Bell N. H. The effects of muscle-building exercise on bone mineral density of the radius, spine, and hip in young men. Calcif Tissue Int. 1989 Jul;45(1):12–14. doi: 10.1007/BF02556654. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dalsky G. P., Stocke K. S., Ehsani A. A., Slatopolsky E., Lee W. C., Birge S. J., Jr Weight-bearing exercise training and lumbar bone mineral content in postmenopausal women. Ann Intern Med. 1988 Jun;108(6):824–828. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-108-6-824. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Dalén N., Olsson K. E. Bone mineral content and physical activity. Acta Orthop Scand. 1974;45(2):170–174. doi: 10.3109/17453677408989136. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Doyle F., Brown J., Lachance C. Relation between bone mass and muscle weight. Lancet. 1970 Feb 21;1(7643):391–393. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)91520-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gleeson P. B., Protas E. J., LeBlanc A. D., Schneider V. S., Evans H. J. Effects of weight lifting on bone mineral density in premenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res. 1990 Feb;5(2):153–158. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.5650050208. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Granhed H., Jonson R., Hansson T. The loads on the lumbar spine during extreme weight lifting. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1987 Mar;12(2):146–149. doi: 10.1097/00007632-198703000-00010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Huddleston A. L., Rockwell D., Kulund D. N., Harrison R. B. Bone mass in lifetime tennis athletes. JAMA. 1980 Sep 5;244(10):1107–1109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Jones H. H., Priest J. D., Hayes W. C., Tichenor C. C., Nagel D. A. Humeral hypertrophy in response to exercise. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1977 Mar;59(2):204–208. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kelly T. L., Slovik D. M., Schoenfeld D. A., Neer R. M. Quantitative digital radiography versus dual photon absorptiometry of the lumbar spine. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 Oct;67(4):839–844. doi: 10.1210/jcem-67-4-839. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Krølner B., Toft B., Pors Nielsen S., Tøndevold E. Physical exercise as prophylaxis against involutional vertebral bone loss: a controlled trial. Clin Sci (Lond) 1983 May;64(5):541–546. doi: 10.1042/cs0640541. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Laan R. F., van Riel P. L., van de Putte L. B., van Erning L. J., van't Hof M. A., Lemmens J. A. Low-dose prednisone induces rapid reversible axial bone loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized, controlled study. Ann Intern Med. 1993 Nov 15;119(10):963–968. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-119-10-199311150-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lanyon L. E. The physiological basis of training the skeleton. The Sir Frederick Smith Memorial Lecture. Equine Vet J Suppl. 1990 Jun;(9):8–13. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04727.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Laskey M. A., Flaxman M. E., Barber R. W., Trafford S., Hayball M. P., Lyttle K. D., Crisp A. J., Compston J. E. Comparative performance in vitro and in vivo of Lunar DPX and Hologic QDR-1000 dual energy X-ray absorptiometers. Br J Radiol. 1991 Nov;64(767):1023–1029. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-64-767-1023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lilley J., Walters B. G., Heath D. A., Drolc Z. In vivo and in vitro precision for bone density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorption. Osteoporos Int. 1991 Jun;1(3):141–146. doi: 10.1007/BF01625443. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Lloyd T., Andon M. B., Rollings N., Martel J. K., Landis J. R., Demers L. M., Eggli D. F., Kieselhorst K., Kulin H. E. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in adolescent girls. JAMA. 1993 Aug 18;270(7):841–844. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Margulies J. Y., Simkin A., Leichter I., Bivas A., Steinberg R., Giladi M., Stein M., Kashtan H., Milgrom C. Effect of intense physical activity on the bone-mineral content in the lower limbs of young adults. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986 Sep;68(7):1090–1093. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Mazess R., Collick B., Trempe J., Barden H., Hanson J. Performance evaluation of a dual-energy x-ray bone densitometer. Calcif Tissue Int. 1989 Mar;44(3):228–232. doi: 10.1007/BF02556569. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Nelson M. E., Fisher E. C., Dilmanian F. A., Dallal G. E., Evans W. J. A 1-y walking program and increased dietary calcium in postmenopausal women: effects on bone. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 May;53(5):1304–1311. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/53.5.1304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Nilsson B. E., Westlin N. E. Bone density in athletes. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1971;77:179–182. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Pacifici R., Rupich R., Griffin M., Chines A., Susman N., Avioli L. V. Dual energy radiography versus quantitative computer tomography for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Mar;70(3):705–710. doi: 10.1210/jcem-70-3-705. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Pocock N. A., Eisman J. A., Yeates M. G., Sambrook P. N., Eberl S. Physical fitness is a major determinant of femoral neck and lumbar spine bone mineral density. J Clin Invest. 1986 Sep;78(3):618–621. doi: 10.1172/JCI112618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pocock N., Eisman J., Gwinn T., Sambrook P., Kelly P., Freund J., Yeates M. Muscle strength, physical fitness, and weight but not age predict femoral neck bone mass. J Bone Miner Res. 1989 Jun;4(3):441–448. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.5650040320. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Rodriguez R. J., Rogriguez R. P., Cook S. D., Sandborn P. M. Electromyographic analysis of rowing stroke biomechanics. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1990 Mar;30(1):103–108. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Rubin C. T., Lanyon L. E. Regulation of bone formation by applied dynamic loads. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984 Mar;66(3):397–402. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Sartoris D. J., Resnick D. Current and innovative methods for noninvasive bone densitometry. Radiol Clin North Am. 1990 Mar;28(2):257–278. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Saville P. D., Nilsson B. E. Height and weight in symptomatic postmenopausal osteoporosis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1966 Mar-Apr;45:49–54. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Sinaki M., McPhee M. C., Hodgson S. F., Merritt J. M., Offord K. P. Relationship between bone mineral density of spine and strength of back extensors in healthy postmenopausal women. Mayo Clin Proc. 1986 Feb;61(2):116–122. doi: 10.1016/s0025-6196(12)65197-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Smidt G. L., Lin S. Y., O'Dwyer K. D., Blanpied P. R. The effect of high-intensity trunk exercise on bone mineral density of postmenopausal women. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1992 Mar;17(3):280–285. doi: 10.1097/00007632-199203000-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Snow-Harter C., Whalen R., Myburgh K., Arnaud S., Marcus R. Bone mineral density, muscle strength, and recreational exercise in men. J Bone Miner Res. 1992 Nov;7(11):1291–1296. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.5650071108. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Williams J. A., Wagner J., Wasnich R., Heilbrun L. The effect of long-distance running upon appendicular bone mineral content. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1984 Jun;16(3):223–227. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wolman R. L., Clark P., McNally E., Harries M., Reeve J. Menstrual state and exercise as determinants of spinal trabecular bone density in female athletes. BMJ. 1990 Sep 15;301(6751):516–518. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6751.516. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES