Factors associated with bone health in long distance runners: a cross-sectional study
Authors' conclusion
In this study greater energy expenditure and years of running were associated with better bone health, especially among older runners. Conversely, greater amounts of light physical activity were associated with poorer bone health, especially in younger runners.
Study context
- Population
- Male long-distance runners aged 36–79 years, running for 1–60 years at an average of 2.4–152.9 km/week on 1–6 days
- Participants
- 81 males
- Outcome
- BMD (lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck) via DXA; predictors historic (questionnaire) and current (actigraphy) physical activity
Methodological detailsstepwise multiple linear regression, mutually adjusted
- Stepwise multiple linear regression
- Mutually adjusted
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
BMD (g/cm²), β [95%CI]
- Lumbar spine: light physical activity
- −0.012 [−0.019, −0.004]
- Lumbar spine: energy expenditure
- 0.00008 [0.00003, 0.00014]
- Total hip: light physical activity
- −0.010 [−0.016, −0.003]
- Total hip: years of running
- 0.003 [0.001, 0.005]
- Total hip: energy expenditure
- 0.00006 [0.00001, 0.00010]
- Femoral neck: light physical activity
- −0.011 [ 0.016, 0.005]
- Femoral neck: energy expenditure
- 0.00006 [0.00002, 0.00010]
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- Associations were similar for t-scores; z-scores were associated with years of running at each site, rather than energy expenditure
Original publication
Factors associated with bone health in long distance runners: a cross-sectional study. Osteoporos Int. Published 27 June 2025. doi:10.
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