Participation in road cycling vs running is associated with lower bone mineral density in men
Abstract
The effects of regular non-weight-bearing (NWB) exercise on bone health are largely unknown. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of participation in NWB sports on bone health in adult male recreational athletes. Male cyclists (NWB; n = 27) and runners (weight-bearing [WB]; n = 16) aged 20 to 59 years were recruited from the community. Whole-body and regional bone mineral content and bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition were assessed using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Bone formation and resorption markers, and hormones were measured in serum. Bone-loading history was estimated from a sports participation history questionnaire. Nutrient intake and current physical activity were estimated from 7-day written logs. The NWB athletes had significantly lower BMD of the whole body and spine than the WB athletes, despite having similar age, weight, body mass index, body composition, hormonal status, current activity level, and nutrient intakes. Sixty-three percent of NWB athletes had osteopenia of the spine or hip, compared with 19% of WB athletes. Cyclists were 7 times more likely to have osteopenia of the spine than runners, controlling for age, body weight, and bone-loading history. There were no group differences in serum markers of bone turnover. Based on the results of this study, current bone loading is an important determinant of whole-body and lumbar spine BMD. Therefore, bone-loading activity should be sustained during adulthood to maintain bone mass.
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Spinal cord injury and cycling data demonstrate that absence of gravitational loading is a powerful stimulus for loss of bone mass.
“The spinal cord injury and cycling data demonstrate that absence of gravitational loading is a powerful stimulus for loss of bone mass.”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [426]
Non-weight-bearing athletes who cycled had lower whole-body and spine bone mineral mass than weight-bearing athletes in males.
“Non-weight-bearing athletes (bicycling) had lower bone mineral mass of whole-body and spine than weight-bearing athletes in males (426, 427).”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [426]
The MET levels translate to more than 4 hours per week of walking, which mechanically loads the proximal femur, as opposed to cycling or other activities that do not load the femur.
“The METs translate to >4 hours per week of walking (types of exercise that mechanically load the proximal femur as opposed to cycling (426) or other activities that do not load the femur).”
From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [426]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Rector, R. S., Rogers, R., Ruebel, M., & Hinton, P. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hinton, Pamela S.
- Venue
- Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-02
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 226-232
- ISSN
- 0026-0495 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2009513782
- Cited by
- 143
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 10.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Lower Extremity Biomechanics and Pathologies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- road cycling, running, bone mineral density, non-weight-bearing exercise, weight-bearing exercise, bone health, osteopenia, lumbar spine, bone loading, bone turnover markers, male athletes, recreational athletes, bone mineral content
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alkaline Phosphatase, Bicycling, Bone and Bones, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Middle Aged, Peptides, Running, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Testosterone, Triiodothyronine, Absorptiometry, Photon, Bone Density, Osteocalcin, Collagen Type I
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