Thicker Radial Cortex in Physically Active Prepubertal Girls Compared to Controls

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of physical activity on cortical bone of the radius in a population of prepubertal girls. Forty-nine healthy girls, 17 actives (10.62 +/- 1.56 years) and 32 controls (9.84 +/- 1.23 years) participated in this study. The active group was involved in gymnastics, judo, and dance on average 7.76 +/- 3.94 h/week. Bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were performed at the distal third of the non-dominant radius using DXA. The lean mass of the non-dominant forearm was derived from the total body analysis performed with DXA. In order to obtain bone cortical thickness, standard radiographs of the non-dominant radius were scanned and computed using a software program based on radiogrammetry. BMD and BMC values were higher in actives than in controls. Cortical thickness at the ulnar side correlated significantly with all the anthropometric and densitometric values as well as the duration of training. In addition, cortical thickness at the ulnar side was significantly higher in the actives compared to the controls. After adjustment for the duration of training per week, cortical thickness of the ulnar side did not differ any more between actives and controls. The same observation was obtained after adjustment for the forearm lean mass. In our active population, physical practice seemed to have induced greater BMC and higher cortical thickness than those observed in the sedentary.