Decreased Bone Mineral Density in Forearm vs Loaded Skeletal Sites in Professional Ballet Dancers

AIMS: To compare the differences in bone mineral density (BMD) at loaded and non-loaded skeletal sites in professional ballet dancers. We hypothesized that in both male and female elite ballet dancers, a significant difference in BMD will be observed between impact and non-impact sites. METHODS: 44 elite ballet dancers, 22 men (age 26.4±5.9 yrs) and 22 women (age 24.9±5.3 yrs), were examined. BMD measurements were performed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at three skeletal sites—forearm (FA), lumbar spine (LS), and femoral neck (FN)—and analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, and linear regression models. Information about career duration, training volume, health habits, and menstrual disorders (women) was collected. RESULTS: Z-scores for LS and FN were significantly higher in men than in women. However, Z-scores for FA were similar in men and women and fell below the expected range for age (