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Bone Health of Female Elite Cyclists Is Characterized by Impaired Cortical and Trabecular Microarchitecture

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Title: Bone Health of Female Elite Cyclists Is Characterized by Impaired Cortical and Trabecular Microarchitecture
Authors: LUUK HILKENS, MELISSA S. A. M. BEVERS, CAROLINE E. WYERS, LUC J. C. VAN LOON, JOOP P. VAN DEN BERGH, JAN-WILLEM VAN DIJK
Contributors: Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Human Physiology and Sports Physiotherapy Research Group
Source: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 57:1755-1762
Publisher Information: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Subject Terms: Adult, Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging, Tibia/diagnostic imaging, Bicycling/physiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Absorptiometry, Photon, Cortical Bone/diagnostic imaging, Radius/diagnostic imaging, Bone Density, Humans, young adult, Cancellous Bone/diagnostic imaging, Female, Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Description: Purpose Many elite road-race cyclists have low areal bone mineral density (aBMD) as previously shown by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, aBMD provides limited insight into bone quality. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess volumetric BMD (vBMD), bone microarchitecture, and bone strength in elite road-race cyclists using high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT), along with aBMD measured by DXA. Methods Twenty female elite (Tier 3/4) road-race cyclists (21 ± 2 yr; body mass index, 20.8 ± 1.6 kg·m−2) had DXA scans at the hip, lumbar spine, and total body to assess aBMD, and HR-pQCT scans at the distal radius and tibia to assess vBMD, bone microarchitecture, and failure load. Z-scores were calculated for all outcomes, with Z-scores Results Low aBMD was observed in 20%, 25%, 35%, and 10% of the participants at the hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total body, respectively. Low total vBMD was present in 45% and 40% at the distal radius and tibia, respectively. With regard to bone microarchitecture, the tibial cortical area and tibial cortical thickness were low in 40% and 60% of the participants, respectively, and number and thickness of trabeculae at the tibia were low in 40% and 30% of the participants. The impairments were less pronounced at the distal radius. Failure load was low in 15% (radius) and 20% (tibia) of the participants. Conclusions Along with low aBMD, a substantial proportion of female elite cyclists had impaired bone microarchitecture, mainly characterized by a low cortical area and thickness and low trabecular number and thickness, especially at the distal tibia.
Document Type: Article
Language: English
ISSN: 1530-0315
0195-9131
DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003718
Access URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40176280
https://cris.maastrichtuniversity.nl/en/publications/4ea93a24-440d-4673-a2a1-fcd6f26dfa05
https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003718
https://biblio.vub.ac.be/vubir/bone-health-of-female-elite-cyclists-is-characterized-by-impaired-cortical-and-trabecular-microarchitecture(00f01c08-97e4-4b68-b3ae-3039f6da481b).html
Accession Number: edsair.doi.dedup.....9e4837ec4199ca37232f563cf660888b
Database: OpenAIRE
Description
Abstract:Purpose Many elite road-race cyclists have low areal bone mineral density (aBMD) as previously shown by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, aBMD provides limited insight into bone quality. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess volumetric BMD (vBMD), bone microarchitecture, and bone strength in elite road-race cyclists using high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT), along with aBMD measured by DXA. Methods Twenty female elite (Tier 3/4) road-race cyclists (21 ± 2 yr; body mass index, 20.8 ± 1.6 kg·m−2) had DXA scans at the hip, lumbar spine, and total body to assess aBMD, and HR-pQCT scans at the distal radius and tibia to assess vBMD, bone microarchitecture, and failure load. Z-scores were calculated for all outcomes, with Z-scores Results Low aBMD was observed in 20%, 25%, 35%, and 10% of the participants at the hip, femoral neck, lumbar spine, and total body, respectively. Low total vBMD was present in 45% and 40% at the distal radius and tibia, respectively. With regard to bone microarchitecture, the tibial cortical area and tibial cortical thickness were low in 40% and 60% of the participants, respectively, and number and thickness of trabeculae at the tibia were low in 40% and 30% of the participants. The impairments were less pronounced at the distal radius. Failure load was low in 15% (radius) and 20% (tibia) of the participants. Conclusions Along with low aBMD, a substantial proportion of female elite cyclists had impaired bone microarchitecture, mainly characterized by a low cortical area and thickness and low trabecular number and thickness, especially at the distal tibia.
ISSN:15300315
01959131
DOI:10.1249/mss.0000000000003718