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Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(05): 341-346
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-124510
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Increased Training Volume Improves Bone Density and Cortical Area in Adolescent Football Players

Ian Varley
1   Musculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
David C. Hughes
2   Biomedical Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Julie P. Greeves
3   Headquarters Army Recruiting and Training Division, Department of Occupational Medicine, Upavon, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
William D. Fraser
4   Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
5   Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norfolk, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Craig Sale
1   Musculoskeletal Physiology Research Group, Sport, Health and Performance Enhancement Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 16 December 2016

Publication Date:
01 March 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Habitual football participation has been shown to be osteogenic, although the specific volume of football participation required to cause bone adaptations are not well established. The aim of the present study is to investigate tibial bone adaptations in response to 12 weeks of increased training volume in elite adolescents who are already accustomed to irregular impact training. 99 male adolescent elite footballers participated (age 16±0 y; height 1.76±0.66 m; body mass 70.2±8.3 kg). Tibial scans were performed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography immediately before and 12 weeks after an increase in football training volume. Scans were obtained at 4, 14, 38 and 66% of tibial length. Trabecular density (mg/cm3), cortical density (mg/cm3), cross-sectional area, cortical area (mm2), cortical thickness (mm) and strength strain index (mm3) were assessed. Trabecular (4%) and cortical density (14, 38%), cortical cross-sectional area (14, 38%), total cross-sectional area (66%), cortical thickness (14, 38%) and strength strain index (14, 38%) increased following 12 weeks of augmented volume training (P<0.05). Increased density of trabecular and cortical compartments and cortical thickening were shown following an increased volume of training. These adaptive responses may have been enhanced by the adolescent status of the cohort, supporting the role of early exercise intervention in improving bone strength.

Keyword

bone accrual - irregular impact training - osteogenic exercise - bone strength

Supplementary Material

 

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