Sports Health-High Impact Sports Participation May Improve Bone Mineral Density in Mature Ath
A recent sports medicine study on bone density in older athletes  in the November/December issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach determined that there may be significant gains to be made when older athletes participate in higher impact exercise activities.A total of 560 senior athletes with an average age of almost 66 years that took part in  2005 National Senior Games were enrolled in the study. Each Olympian received a Senior Athlete Health Registry Questionnaire and then had their bone mineral density testing performed via a calcaneal quantitative ultrasound of the heal of their dominant foot. The study found that participation in high-impact sports was a significant predictor of improved bone mineral density of the foot when compared to the athletes who participated in lower impact sports once the athlete’s age, sex, body mass and use of osteoporosis medication were controlled.