Research article - (2017)16, 99 - 104
Bone Mineralization in Rhythmic Gymnasts Entering Puberty: Associations with Jumping Performance and Body Composition Variables
Kristel Võsoberg1, Vallo Tillmann2, Anna-Liisa Tamm3, Katre Maasalu2, Jaak Jürimäe1,
1Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
2Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
3Tartu Health Care College, Tartu, Estonia

Jaak Jürimäe
✉ Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, 18. Ülikooli St., Tartu 50090, Estonia
Email: jaak.jurimae@ut.ee
Received: 24-10-2016 -- Accepted: 31-01-2017
Published (online): 01-03-2017

ABSTRACT

This study examined bone mineral density (BMD) accrual in prepubertal rhythmic gymnasts entering puberty and their age-matched untrained control girls, and associations with baseline jumping performance and body composition over the 3-year period. Whole body (WB) and femoral neck (FN) BMD, WB fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM), countermovement jump (CMJ) and rebound jumps for 15 s (RJ15s) were assessed in 25 rhythmic gymnasts and 25 untrained controls at baseline and after 3-year period. The changes over this period were calculated (∆ scores). Pubertal maturation over the 3-year period was slower in rhythmic gymnasts compared to untrained controls, while no difference in bone age development was seen. WB BMD increased similarly in both groups, while the increase in FN BMD was higher in rhythmic gymnasts compared with untrained controls. In rhythmic gymnasts, baseline FFM was the most significant predictor of ∆WB BMD explaining 19.2% of the variability, while baseline RJ15s was the most significant predictor of ∆FN BMD explaining 18.5% of the variability. In untrained controls, baseline FM explained 51.8 and 18.9% of the variability in ∆WB BMD and ∆FN BMD, respectively. In conclusion, mechanical loading of high-intensity athletic activity had beneficial effect on BMD accrual in rhythmic gymnasts and may have counterbalanced such negative factors on bone development as slower pubertal maturation and lower body FM. Baseline FFM and repeated jumps test performance were related to BMD accrual in rhythmic gymnasts, while baseline FM was related to BMD accrual in untrained controls.

Key words: Rhythmic gymnasts, pubertal development, bone mineral accrual, body composition, jumping performance

Key Points
  • Sudy examined bone mineralization in prepubertal rhythmic gymnasts entering puberty and their age-matched untrained control girls, and associations with baseline jumping performance and body composition.
  • Jumping performance and fat free mass values predicted bone mineral accrual in rhythmic gymnasts.
  • Fat mass predicted bone mineral accrual in untrained control girls.
  • Repeated jumps test, but not single jump test was related to bone mineralization in rhythmic gymnasts.








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