Bone mineral density of woman divers

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The study was done to examine the role of long-term diving(5-20m depth) on regional bone mineral density(BMD) in women. METHODS: We compared woman divers(n=38) with matched non-diver controls(n=38) according to age, weight, and duration of menopause. BMD(g/cm2)of the proximal femur (femoral neck, trochanter, Ward's triangle) was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, Hologic QDR-1500). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups for proximal femur BMD. But in premenopausal group, BMD of divers was higher than controls in femur neck and trochanter (p<0.05). Correlations analysis revealed that body weight of divers was significantly correlated to femoral neck BMD (p<0.05). In multiple regression analysis, menopause and age of postmenopausal divers was a predictors of femoral neck BMD in divers. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that diving is has osteogenic effect on women.