Lumbar bone mineral density in adolescent female runners.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if there were significant differences in lumbar bone mineral density (L2-L4, g/cm2) or several hormones among 3 groups of adolescent females: 10 amenorrheic runners, 10 eumenorrheic runners, and 10 eumenorrheic controls. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: comparative. SETTING: Cooper Clinic, Aerobics Center, Dallas, Texas. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were white, non-smokers, aged 15.1-18.8 years, who were not taking birth control pills. All amenorrheic runners had less than 5 menstrual period in the past year, averaging 2,4 periods. The runners averaged approximately 36 miles/week (58.1 km) during the last 9 months of their training season and had been running for 1-5 years. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASURES: Lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), 10 hormones, percentage of body fat, and dietary intake were measured. RESULTS: Mean lumbar BMD (g/cm2) did not differ significantly among groups (amenorrheic runners = 1.134, eumenorrheic runners = 1.165, controls = 1.148). However, expected trends were observed. Compared to the controls, the amenorrheic runners tended to have lower lumbar BMD and the eumenorrheic runners, higher. Although there were significant differences in concentrations of five serum hormones measured, all mean hormonal values were within normal ranges. Calcium intakes were low for all groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, with its small number of subjects and great variability within each group, it was concluded that there is no significant difference among amenorrheic runners, eumenorrheic runners, and controls in lumbar BMD. However, a longer period of amenorrhea might result in significantly lower BMD for the amenorrheic runners.

Bone density patterns in women with anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare various measures of bone mineral density (BMD) in adult anorectics with those of age and gender-matched controls. METHOD: Twenty Caucasian females with a history of anorexia nervosa and 20 controls were evaluated by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry for lumbar and total body BMD. Regional densities were derived from total body scans. RESULTS: Anorectics exhibited lower lumbar (p < .001) and total body (p < .001) densities when compared to controls. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between total body density and both body mass index (r = .512) and lean body weight (r = .444). Lumbar density correlated poorly with the same two variables. Correlations between illness-related variables and both lumbar and total body BMD failed to reach significance yet lumbar correlations were consistently stronger for age of onset, duration of amenorrhea, and duration of illness. Anorectic regional densities were lower at every site. DISCUSSION: Substandard density may persist in trabecular regions despite nutritional repletion.

Relationship of regional body composition to bone mineral density in college females.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between regional body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) in college females. Subjects were 12 nonathletic females (< 3 h.wk-1 of exercise) and 46 female varsity athletes: basketball (N = 14), volleyball (N = 13), gymnastics (N = 13), and tennis (N = 6). Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to determine BMD and body composition. The mean (+/- SD) age, height, weight, and menarche for the subjects were 19.9 +/- 2.1 yr, 167.9 +/- 9.4 cm, 62.1 +/- 9.0 kg, and 13.6 +/- 1.7 yr, respectively. Mean lumbar (1.327 g.cm-2), femoral neck (1.172 g.cm-2), and total body (1.200 g.cm-2) BMD of the athletes were significantly greater than nonathletes (P < 0.05) but did not differ among the teams. Significant correlations were found between regional leg BMD and leg lean tissue mass (LTM) (r = 0.59, P < 0.001) and between arm LTM and arm and lumbar BMD (r = 0.47 and 0.56, respectively). Significant correlations were also found between leg fat mass and leg BMD (r = 0.40). However, only regional LTM was a significant predictor of BMD using stepwise multiple regression. In summary, regional LTM appears to be a better predictor of BMD than regional fat mass.

The effects of gymnastics training on bone mineral density.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of 27 wk of gymnastics training on bone mineral density (BMD), body composition, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and osteocalcin. Subjects were 11 female intercollegiate gymnasts and 11 controls. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Lunar DPX) was used to determine BMD (L2-L4 and femur) and to assess body composition. The gymnasts were significantly lower in weight (53.9 and 60.8 kg) and % body fat (22.6 and 30.6) compared with controls. After training, body weights of gymnasts remained the same but there was a significant increase in lean tissue mass of 2.9 kg (6.7%, P < 0.05). No changes in body composition were observed in the controls. The gymnasts had significantly higher mean lumbar (1.321 vs 1.225), and femoral neck (1.163 vs 1.079) BMD (g.cm-2) than the controls. Lumbar BMD increased significantly (1.3%) in gymnasts following training but femoral neck BMD did not increase. No BMD changes occurred in the control group. Regarding serum IGF-I, no differences were seen between the groups or across time. Serum osteocalcin values were significantly higher in the gymnasts than the controls, but no differences were found across time. In conclusion, gymnasts had significantly higher BMDs than controls, and a significant increase in lumbar BMD was seen in the gymnasts following 27 wk of training.

Self-concepts of disabled youth athletes.

A self-concept inventory was administered to 158 youth athletes, ages 9 to 18 yr. (M = 13.94 yr., SD = 2.63) who competed in the first Pan American Victory Games for Physically Disabled Youth. Disabilities represented were blind (n = 57), cerebral palsy (n = 52), dwarfs (n = 18), spinal cord injured (n = 12), amputation (n = 10), and les autres (n = 9). The purpose was to examine the self-concepts of disabled youth athletes and begin a data base. Analysis indicated that mean self-concept scores fell within or were close to ranges of means for able-bodied youth, as given in the test manual.

Attitudes of handicapped and nonhandicapped high school students toward physical education.

The attitudes of 381 handicapped and nonhandicapped high school students toward physical education in mainstreamed classes were compared using measures from the Kneer Attitude Inventory and Diagnostic Statements. A two-way analysis of variance yielded a significant difference between the groups' attitudes. Nonhandicapped high school students had significantly more positive attitudes toward physical education than their handicapped peers. No sex differences were significant.

Self-actualisation of elite wheelchair athletes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-actualisation of male and female elite wheelchair athletes in comparison to the general population and to able-bodied athletes. All subjects completed the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI), and statistically significant differences were identified. In general, wheelchair athletes were similar to the general population. Male wheelchair athletes were significantly more self-actualised than able-bodied athletes, but female wheelchair athletes were self-actualised to the same extent as able-bodied athletes.

Use of the personal orientation inventory with disabled athletes.

Athletes who are blind or have impairments in hand-eye coordination that prevent writing are unable to complete psychological inventories in the standardized manner, i.e., read silently and answered independently and anonymously. Two studies were conducted on the oral administration of the Personal Orientation Inventory as a measure of self-actualization of disabled athletes. Reliabilities were examined across modalities (oral vs written) by administering the inventory both ways to 25 high school and college athletes, M age = 21.6 yr. Test-retest reliability for oral administration was affirmed in a study of 15 blind elite male athletes and 15 cerebral palsied elite male and female athletes. It was concluded that the inventory, administered orally, may be appropriately used with disabled athletes.

Peak torque values of the knee extensor and flexor muscles of females.

Two hundred and forty-one females between the ages of 18 and 28 years were subjects for this study. Subjects were tested for knee extension and knee flexion on a Cybex(R) II isokinetic dynamometer at 60 degrees /sec using a modified seating arrangement which placed the back rest at 20 from the vertical. To familiarize subjects with the Cybex II, two practice trials of complete extension and flexion were allowed. The actual test included four consecutive trials of voluntary maximum isokinetic contractions of the knee extensors and flexors. The mean torque value of the knee extensors was 96.47 ft-lb and 51.77 ft-lb for the knee flexors. The corresponding ratio was 1.86: 1.00. The trials demonstrating the maximum peak torque values for the knee extensors and flexors were chosen to determine the time to peak torque. The mean time to peak torque for the knee extensors (2.76 sec) was only slightly longer (0.02 sec) than the mean time to peak torque for the knee flexors (2.78 sec). Based on the outcome of the investigation and the size of the sample, it is suggested that young and untrained women who have no history of health-related conditions of the knee demonstrate an approximate ratio of knee extensor strength to knee flexor strength of 2: 1 at 60 /sec. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1985;7(2):65-68.

Effects of an integrated physical education/music program in changing early childhood perceptual-motor performance.

Two approaches to facilitating perceptual-motor development in children, ages 4 to 6 yr., were investigated. The experimental group (n = 15) received 24 sessions of integrated physical education/music instruction based upon concepts of Kodaly and Dalcroze. The control group (n = 15) received 24 sessions of movement exploration and self-testing instruction. Analysis of covariance indicated that significant improvement occurred only in the experimental group, with discharges changes in the motor, auditory, and language aspects of perceptual-motor performance as well as total score.