Do Paralympic athletes suffer from brittle bones? Prevalence and risk factors of low bone mineral density in Paralympic athletes

BACKGROUND: Bone health may be a concern in Paralympic athletes, given the presence of multiple risk factors predisposing these athletes to low bone mineral density (BMD). Objective: We aimed to assess the prevalence of low BMD among Paralympic athletes participating in various sport disciplines, and to identify potential risk factors for low BMD.

METHODS: Seventy Paralympic athletes, of whom 51 % were wheelchair-dependent, were included in this cross-sectional study. BMD of the whole-body, lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Comparisons between groups were conducted by one-way ANOVA, and regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors for low BMD.

RESULTS: The prevalence of low BMD (Z-score < -1.0) was highest at femoral neck (34 %), followed by total hip (31 %), whole-body (21 %), and lumbar spine (18 %). Wheelchair-dependent athletes had significantly lower BMD Z-scores compared to the non-wheelchair-dependent athletes at whole-body level (-0.5 ± 1.4 vs 0.2 ± 1.3; P = 0.04), total hip (-1.1 ± 1.2 vs 0.0 ± 1.1; P < 0.01), and femoral neck (-1.0 ± 1.3 vs -0.1 ± 1.2; P < 0.01). At the lumbar spine, low BMD was completely absent in wheelchair basketball and tennis players. Regression analyses identified body mass, wheelchair dependence, and type of sport, as the main risk factors for low BMD.

CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of Paralympic athletes, low BMD is mainly present at the hip, and to a lesser extent at the whole-body and lumbar spine. The most prominent risk factors for low BMD in Paralympic athletes are related to mechanical loading patterns, including wheelchair use, the type of sport, and body mass.