Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports

Background Bone strength is developed through a combination of the size and shape (architecture) of a bone as well as the bone’s material properties; and therefore, no one outcome variable can measure a positive or negative adaptation in bone. Skeletal robusticity (total area/ bone length) a measure...

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Main Authors: Vanessa R. Yingling, Benjamin Ferrari-Church, Ariana Strickland
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PeerJ Inc. 2018-09-01
Series:PeerJ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://peerj.com/articles/5550.pdf
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author Vanessa R. Yingling
Benjamin Ferrari-Church
Ariana Strickland
author_facet Vanessa R. Yingling
Benjamin Ferrari-Church
Ariana Strickland
author_sort Vanessa R. Yingling
collection DOAJ
description Background Bone strength is developed through a combination of the size and shape (architecture) of a bone as well as the bone’s material properties; and therefore, no one outcome variable can measure a positive or negative adaptation in bone. Skeletal robusticity (total area/ bone length) a measure of bones external size varies within the population and is independent of body size, but robusticity has been associated with bone strength. Athletes may have similar variability in robusticity values as the general population and thus have a wide range of bone strengths based on the robustness of their bones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if an athlete’s bone strength and cortical area relative to body size was dependent on robusticity. The second aim was to determine if anthropometry or muscle function measurements were associated with bone robusticity. Methods Bone variables contributing to bone strength were measured in collegiate athletes and a reference group using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the 50% tibial site. Bone functionality was assessed by plotting bone strength and cortical area vs body size (body weight x tibial length) and robustness (total area/length) vs body size. Bone strength was measured using the polar strength-strain index (SSIp). Based on the residuals from the regression, an athlete’s individual functionality was determined, and two groups were formed “weaker for size” (WS) and “stronger for size” (SS). Grip strength, leg extensor strength and lower body power were also measured. Results Division II athletes exhibited a natural variation in (SSIp) relative to robusticity consistent with previous studies. Bone strength (SSIp) was dependent on the robusticity of the tibia. The bone traits that comprise bone strength (SSIp) were significantly different between the SS and WS groups, yet there were minimal differences in the anthropometric data and muscle function measures between groups. A lower percentage of athletes from ball sports were “weaker for size” (WS group) and a higher percentage of swimmers were in the WS group. Discussion A range of strength values based on robusticity occurs in athletes similar to general populations. Bones with lower robusticity (slender) were constructed with less bone tissue and had less strength. The athletes with slender bones were from all sports including track and field and ball sports but the majority were swimmers. Conclusions Athletes, even after optimal training for their sport, may have weaker bones based on robusticity. Slender bones may therefore be at a higher risk for fracture under extreme loading events but also yield benefits to some athletes (swimmers) due to their lower bone mass.
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spelling doaj.art-4f33dd2f80024e0f981aba7315316e522023-12-03T11:34:00ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592018-09-016e555010.7717/peerj.5550Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sportsVanessa R. Yingling0Benjamin Ferrari-Church1Ariana Strickland2Department of Kinesiology, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Kinesiology, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States of AmericaDepartment of Kinesiology, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, United States of AmericaBackground Bone strength is developed through a combination of the size and shape (architecture) of a bone as well as the bone’s material properties; and therefore, no one outcome variable can measure a positive or negative adaptation in bone. Skeletal robusticity (total area/ bone length) a measure of bones external size varies within the population and is independent of body size, but robusticity has been associated with bone strength. Athletes may have similar variability in robusticity values as the general population and thus have a wide range of bone strengths based on the robustness of their bones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if an athlete’s bone strength and cortical area relative to body size was dependent on robusticity. The second aim was to determine if anthropometry or muscle function measurements were associated with bone robusticity. Methods Bone variables contributing to bone strength were measured in collegiate athletes and a reference group using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the 50% tibial site. Bone functionality was assessed by plotting bone strength and cortical area vs body size (body weight x tibial length) and robustness (total area/length) vs body size. Bone strength was measured using the polar strength-strain index (SSIp). Based on the residuals from the regression, an athlete’s individual functionality was determined, and two groups were formed “weaker for size” (WS) and “stronger for size” (SS). Grip strength, leg extensor strength and lower body power were also measured. Results Division II athletes exhibited a natural variation in (SSIp) relative to robusticity consistent with previous studies. Bone strength (SSIp) was dependent on the robusticity of the tibia. The bone traits that comprise bone strength (SSIp) were significantly different between the SS and WS groups, yet there were minimal differences in the anthropometric data and muscle function measures between groups. A lower percentage of athletes from ball sports were “weaker for size” (WS group) and a higher percentage of swimmers were in the WS group. Discussion A range of strength values based on robusticity occurs in athletes similar to general populations. Bones with lower robusticity (slender) were constructed with less bone tissue and had less strength. The athletes with slender bones were from all sports including track and field and ball sports but the majority were swimmers. Conclusions Athletes, even after optimal training for their sport, may have weaker bones based on robusticity. Slender bones may therefore be at a higher risk for fracture under extreme loading events but also yield benefits to some athletes (swimmers) due to their lower bone mass.https://peerj.com/articles/5550.pdfBone strengthBone geometryAthletespQCTRobusticity
spellingShingle Vanessa R. Yingling
Benjamin Ferrari-Church
Ariana Strickland
Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
PeerJ
Bone strength
Bone geometry
Athletes
pQCT
Robusticity
title Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
title_full Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
title_fullStr Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
title_full_unstemmed Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
title_short Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
title_sort tibia functionality and division ii female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports
topic Bone strength
Bone geometry
Athletes
pQCT
Robusticity
url https://peerj.com/articles/5550.pdf
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AT arianastrickland tibiafunctionalityanddivisioniifemaleandmalecollegiateathletesfrommultiplesports