Can the sedentary behavior of basketball and volleyball players impact bone mass and bone geometry?

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between sedentary behavior, bone mass, and bone geometry among young male basketball and volleyball players. This cross-sectional study included 55 adolescent basketball ( n = 21) and volleyball ( n = 34) players (14–17 years). Body composition (body mass index, fat mass, and lean mass) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, comprising bone mineral density, bone mineral content at the lumbar spine, and femoral neck. Bone geometry considered the femur strength index, section modulus, cross-sectional moment of inertia, and cross-sectional area. Dietary intake was obtained through a semiquantitative questionnaire, and the sedentary behavior, by the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire. Linear regression models, fitted by Bayesian methods, explored the variation of the variables by sport. Body composition and bone mass values were high for both sports, but there was no variation for body composition. Adjusting for age, there was no association of sedentary behavior on bone parameters. For femoral strength index, age had a moderate to large association with all bone indicators. Lastly, there was influence of sport (level-2 unit) on the estimates of the association between sedentary behavior and age with bone indicators, as uncertainty estimates for group-level effects were high. There is no association between sedentary behavior and bone parameters, showing that accumulated training loads (15+ h/wk) among young basketball and volleyball players are critical; producing a positive stimulus on bone parameters development.