Abstract
To examine in athletes the effect of long-term amenorrhea on the skeleton, measurements
of calcaneal density and whole body retention of 99mTc-imidodiphosphate were made in 42 women who could be allocated to one of 3 groups
defined by their level of physical activity and by menstrual status. There was no
difference in bone density between eumenorrheic normoactive females and either eumenorrheic
or amenorrheic athletes. However, calcaneal density was significantly greater for
each group than for previously measured sedentary controls. Total body bone turnover
was greater in both eumenorrheic and amenorrheic athletes than in eumenorrheic normoactive
women. Sustained, intense physical activity does not significantly increase calcaneal
bone density over and above the increase associated with normal levels of activity.
This is despite a significant increase in the rate of total body bone mineral turnover.
Key words
Physical activity - amenorrhea - calcaneal density - whole body bone turnover
