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Basketball players possess a higher bone mineral density than matched non-athletes, swimming, soccer, and volleyball athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Summary

Basketball athletes possess a higher bone mineral density (BMD) than matched non-athletes and swimming, soccer, and volleyball athletes. Differences appear to be exacerbated with continued training and competition beyond adolescence. The greater BMD in basketball athletes compared to non-athletes, swimming, and soccer athletes is more pronounced in males than females.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine differences in total and regional bone mineral density (BMD) between basketball athletes, non-athletes, and athletes competing in swimming, soccer, and volleyball, considering age and sex.

Methods

PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were searched. Included studies consisted of basketball players and at least one group of non-athletes, swimming, soccer, or volleyball athletes. BMD data were meta-analyzed. Cohen’s d effect sizes [95% confidence intervals (CI)] were interpreted as: trivial ≤ 0.20, small = 0.20–0.59, moderate = 0.60–1.19, large = 1.20–1.99, and very large ≥ 2.00.

Results

Basketball athletes exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher BMD compared to non-athletes (small-moderate effect in total-body: d = 1.06, CI 0.55, 1.56; spine: d = 0.67, CI 0.40, 0.93; lumbar spine: d = 0.96, CI 0.57, 1.35; upper limbs: d = 0.70, CI 0.29, 1.10; lower limbs: d = 1.14, CI 0.60, 1.68; pelvis: d = 1.16, CI 0.05, 2.26; trunk: d = 1.00, CI 0.65, 1.35; and femoral neck: d = 0.57, CI 0.16, 0.99), swimming athletes (moderate-very large effect in total-body: d = 1.33, CI 0.59, 2.08; spine: d = 1.04, CI 0.60, 1.48; upper limbs: d = 1.19, CI 0.16, 2.22; lower limbs: d = 2.76, CI 1.45, 4.06; pelvis d = 1.72, CI 0.63, 2.81; and trunk: d = 1.61, CI 1.19, 2.04), soccer athletes (small effect in total-body: d = 0.58, CI 0.18, 0.97), and volleyball athletes (small effect in total-body: d = 0.32, CI 0.00, 0.65; and pelvis: d = 0.48, CI 0.07, 0.88). Differences in total and regional BMD between groups increased with age and appeared greater in males than in females.

Conclusion

Basketball athletes exhibit a greater BMD compared to non-athletes, as well as athletes involved in swimming, soccer, and volleyball.

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Data used to support the findings of this review are included within the article.

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No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Niš, Serbia

    Emilija Stojanović & Dragan Radovanović

  2. Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia

    Emilija Stojanović & Vladimir Jakovljević

  3. Human Exercise and Training Laboratory, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Australia

    Vincent J. Dalbo & Aaron T. Scanlan

  4. Department of Human Pathology, Moscow State Medical University IM Sechenov, Moscow, Russia

    Vladimir Jakovljević

  5. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Nenad Ponorac

  6. Labaratory of Investigation in Exercise, Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil

    Ricardo R. Agostinete

  7. Department of Physical Education, Post-Graduation Program in Movement Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil

    Ricardo R. Agostinete

  8. Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Zdenek Svoboda

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  1. Emilija Stojanović
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Stojanović, E., Radovanović, D., Dalbo, V.J. et al. Basketball players possess a higher bone mineral density than matched non-athletes, swimming, soccer, and volleyball athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Osteoporos 15, 123 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-020-00803-7

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