Body composition and bone mineral density in competitive athletes in different sports.

Bone mineral density (BMD) of the vertebral spine, appendicular skeleton, and whole body was studied in male athletes who chronically trained by different forms of skeletal loading. Eighteen subjects performed weight-bearing activity (canoeists, n = 18), and 14 performed non-weight-bearing activity (cyclists, n = 14). Twenty-eight age-matched male students served as non-athletic controls. The canoeists had significantly higher spine, pelvic and total body BMD than cyclists and controls. No intergroup difference was observed in the BMD of arms and legs despite the fact that physical activity of canoeists and cyclists were characterized by forceful muscular contractions. It is concluded that weight-bearing activity is essential to obtain beneficial skeletal effects on total and regional bone mass in young subjects.