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Influence of endurance running on calcaneal bone stiffness in male and female runners

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 116, pages 327–333 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this investigation was to determine the influence of endurance running on calcaneus bone stiffness in male and female runners.

Methods

A total of 122 marathoners (longer distance runners, men = 101; women = 21) and 81 half-marathon and 10-km runners (shorter distance runners; men = 48; women = 33), competing in an international running event, underwent an ultrasonographic assessment of the right and left calcaneus. Calcaneus bone stiffness was estimated using the measurements of the speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). Seventy-five age-matched sedentary people served as the control group.

Results

Male and female longer distance runners and shorter distance runners presented higher values than sedentary counterparts in SOS (P < 0.05), and calcaneus stiffness (P < 0.05). Although there were no significant differences between longer distance and shorter distance runners in the ultrasonographic variables, longer distance runners presented greater effects size in SOS (1.00 vs 0.93 males; 1.10 vs 0.77 females), BUA (0.62 vs 0.25 males; 0.89 vs 0.20 females) and calcaneus stiffness (0.88 vs 0.66 males; 1.20 vs 0.60 females) than shorter distance endurance runners.

Conclusion

Calcaneus bone stiffness was higher in all endurance runners compared to a sedentary control population. The volume of ground reaction forces which occur during endurance running might induce the adaptation of the calcaneus bone.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

BUA:

Broadband ultrasound attenuation

SD:

Standard deviation

SOS:

Speed of sound

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the subjects for their invaluable contribution to the study. In addition, we are very grateful to the Organization of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Madrid Marathon & ½ Marathon for their contribution to the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Sports Science Institute, Camilo José Cela University, C/Castillo de Alarcon, 49, 28692, Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain

    Beatriz Lara, Juan José Salinero, Jorge Gutiérrez, Francisco Areces, Javier Abián-Vicén, Diana Ruiz-Vicente, César Gallo-Salazar & Juan Del Coso

  2. Performance and Sport Rehabilitation Laboratory, Sports Sciences Faculty, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain

    Fernando Jiménez

Authors
  1. Beatriz Lara
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  2. Juan José Salinero
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  3. Jorge Gutiérrez
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  4. Francisco Areces
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  5. Javier Abián-Vicén
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  6. Diana Ruiz-Vicente
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  7. César Gallo-Salazar
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  8. Fernando Jiménez
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  9. Juan Del Coso
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juan Del Coso.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest derived from the outcomes of this study.

Additional information

Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Lara, B., Salinero, J.J., Gutiérrez, J. et al. Influence of endurance running on calcaneal bone stiffness in male and female runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 327–333 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3285-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3285-7

Keywords

  • Bone mass
  • Running training
  • Physical activity
  • Exercise
  • Mechanical loading