Skip to main content

Powerlifting and bone density

I like this nice careful conclusion. Looking at a couple of veteran power lifters they find better than average bone density..... But the conclusion is tentative.

Although these results do not prove any causal relationship between long-term high-intensity strength training and elevated BMDs among women, they do raise questions that some type of relationship may exist.

The study is Case Study: Bone Mineral Density of Two Elite Senior Female Powerlifters

Comments

Chuck said…
is this an activity related phenomena or do these people eat differently than the average person?
February 17, 2012 at 1:34 PM
CarbSane said…
It's a basic fact of bone physiology that bones grow in response to stress, and remodel in response to stress as well. Your bones are constantly resorbing and being laid down. Mineralization may not be entirely based on this, but it most certainly is related to the turnover/renewal of your bones.

My bone density is off the charts (I'm in like the 98th percentile for 30 yo women and I was post meno mid-40's when it was done) and I have no doubt it was due to my "heavy lifting" during obese years.
February 18, 2012 at 8:46 AM
Chris said…
Thanks Evelyn. Bone health is one of the key reasons that I recommend resistance training. Interestingly it is not just the weight bearing that seems to be important. It the tension of muscle pulling on the bones - the mechanistic model.


I liked the tentative and very accurate conclusion here refusing to ascribe causality!
February 18, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Anonymous said…
At a practical level on the nutritional side Vitamin K (K-1 phylloquinone and more potently, K-2 menaquinone) contribute to bone quality - specifically a reduction in bone fractures - without necessarily increasing bone mineral density. BMD may not be the best marker of bone health. Big Pharma likes to point to increases in BMD with their drugs but it is now known that use of those drugs can actually increase the risk of bone fractures.
February 21, 2012 at 3:49 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dry January

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was taking part in "Dry January".  I didn't make a big song and dance about it, but I decided to go for a calendar month or so with no alcohol.  A few people have asked me about my experience, so here are a few points. Why take a break from drinking? Alcohol is an interesting topic.  As a drug it is widely accepted in society, central to so much of our socialising and leisure.  There seem to be lots of health benefits - so we are told - yet there are also a lot of problems in terms of health, relationships and lifestyle that come from drinking. Over a few years I'd begun to become aware and then concerned that I was drinking too much and too regularly.  I am in a busy and stressful job and sometimes a glass of wine after work to relax is really helpful.  But over time, one glass became two.  Two glasses became ....I might as well finish the bottle.  A habit got established....and was starting to get too e...
7 comments
Read more

So where have I been?

You will have noticed that this blog has been quiet for a while....  There are a few reasons for that, reasons that I thought I'd list here: WORK -  my day job has been incredibly busy and stressful this year. Working 10-14 hour days the last thing on my mind when I got home was putting something on here.  FACEBOOK/TWITTER - I suppose I've been using other channels to do some of what I used to do here. Quick fire posts pointing to interesting studies or news etc tend to get posted to Twitter (@chrishighcock) or to the Facebook Hillfit group http://www.facebook.com/groups/263083947097000/  REASSESSMENT - I've found myself less comfortable with some of the positions I've taken in the past. Sometimes I'm embarrassed by some of the things I've promoted. I'm not Paleo or low carb. I think Tabata and intervals are misunderstood and misapplied. I cannot really claim to be HIT.   I find myselfunable  honestly to post things on here and pretend that I am some sort o...
12 comments
Read more

Taking up space for a brief update

I've a couple of posts in draft that I will get up soon -  an update / reflection on Dry January and some thoughts on the scheduling benefits of short workouts if your life is busy.  Before that though, I am pointing to something else. However, I wanted to highlight something that is coming this weekend that I've been involved in.   Amber Rogers (Gokaleo and author of Taking Up Space ) has been pulling together a bundle of books from various authors with a common theme, one that I've been pushing here recently.   Keep it simple, avoid the hype, be patient, be consistent and flee the gurus.   I've talked before about how we get obsessed with pushing for more and more, when enough is OK.  I've given my view that so much of the health and fitness internet world is more like a gnostic religion than something that will benefit your life. There are other voices out there saying similar things and I'll be pointing to a bundle of books later this week ...
1 comment
Read more