Bone Mass and Muscle Strength in Female College Athletes (Runners and Swimmers)

To determine whether female college athletes had increased muscle strength and bone mass in comparison with age-matched nonathletic female subjects and, if so, whether participation in weight-bearing versus non-weight-bearing exercise made a difference. We performed a comparative statistical analysis of the bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck, maximal oxygen uptake (Vo 2max), muscle strength, and level of physical activity in 21 runners, 22 swimmers, and 20 control subjects. The study participants were female college students, 18 to 24 years old, who had had more than 8 normal menstrual cycles during the past year. Statistical analyses showed significantly higher Vo 2max in the two athletic study groups than in the control subjects ( P