The Effects of Exercise Participation on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Mineral Content in Swimmers

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bone mineral content and bone mineral density in swimmers. [Subjects] This study assessed bone mineral density and bone mineral content in the dominant and nondominant arms of 30 people, including 15 swimmers and 15 control group students from a girls’ high school, by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bone mineral content and bone mineral density were determined in the ulna and a radius (1/3 part, middle, ultradistal) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry using Hologic QDR-4500 (Hologic, Bddford, MA, USA). The data were subjected to statistical analyses of the data. Statistical significance was accepted for values of p less than 0.05. [Results] There was a significant difference in the bone density of the dominant arms the each group. However, there was a significant difference in the mass of the bone mineral in dominant arms between groups. There was also a significant difference in the mass of the bone mineral in nondominant arms between groups. [Conclusion] The bone mineral content and density of the swimming groups were higher than those of the control group. The distinctly high bone mineral content and density of the dominant arms in the for swimmers, who utilized their muscle contractibility and heavily exercised, will help the formation of bone mineral content and density.