Long-distance running, bone density, and osteoarthritis

Journal Article · Fri Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 1986 · JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1986.03370090069022· OSTI ID:7245858

Lane, N E; Bloch, D A; Jones, H H; Marshall, Jr, W H; Wood, P D; Fries, J F

Forty-one long-distance runners aged 50 to 72 years were compared with 41 matched community controls to examine associations of repetitive, long-term physical impact (running) with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. Roentgenograms of hands, lateral lumbar spine, and knees were assessed without knowledge of running status. A computed tomographic scan of the first lumbar vertebra was performed to quantitate bone mineral content. Runners, both male and female, have approximately 40% more bone mineral than matched controls. Female runners, but not male runners, appear to have somewhat more sclerosis and spur formation in spine and weight-bearing knee x-ray films, but not in hand x-ray films. There were no differences between groups in joint space narrowing, crepitation, joint stability, or symptomatic osteoarthritis. Running is associated with increased bone mineral but not, in this cross-sectional study, with clinical osteoarthritis.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ. Medical Center, CA
• OSTI ID: 7245858
• Journal Information: JAMA, J. Am. Med. Assoc.; (United States), Vol. 255:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BONE TISSUES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SKELETON
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSTIC USES
EXERCISE
OSTEOPOROSIS
RHEUMATIC DISEASES
VERTEBRAE
ANIMAL TISSUES
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIOLOGY
SKELETAL DISEASES
TISSUES
TOMOGRAPHY
USES
550602* - Medicine- External Radiation in Diagnostics- (1980-)