High thigh muscle strength but not bone mass in young horseback-riding females.
Abstract: To evaluate whether the type of weight-bearing loading subjected to the skeleton during horseback-riding was associated with differences in bone mass and muscle strength of the thigh, we investigated bone mass and isokinetic muscle strength in 20 female horse riders (age 17.9 +/- 0.6 years) who were riding 7.0 +/- 3.4 hours/week, and 20 nonactive females (age 17.8 +/- 1.1 years). The groups were matched according to age, weight, and height. Areal bone mineral density was measured in total body, head, lumbar spine, right femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and trochanter, the whole dominant and nondominant humerus, and in specific sites in the right femur diaphysis, distal femur, proximal tibia, and tibia diaphysis using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Isokinetic concentric and eccentric peak torque of the quadricep and hamstring muscles were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. There were no significant differences in bone mass between the horseback riders and nonactives at any site measured. The horse riders were significantly (P < 0.05-0.01) stronger in concentric hamstrings strength at 90 degrees/second and 225 degrees/second and in eccentric quadricep and hamstring strength at 90 degrees/second. Horseback riding in young females is associated with a high muscle strength of the thigh, but not with a high bone mass.
Publication Date: 1998-06-20 PubMed ID: 9576976DOI: 10.1007/s002239900468Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research aimed to determine the association of horseback riding with the bone mass and thigh muscle strength in young women. Despite higher thigh muscle strength in horse riders, no observed increase in their bone mass was recorded in comparison to non-riders.
Objective of the Study
- The primary purpose of this research was to investigate whether the weight-bearing loading experienced during horseback riding has any possible correlation with the muscle strength and bone mass in the thigh region of young female riders.
Methodology
- A total of 40 young women, comprising 20 horse riders and 20 non-riders, participated in the study. All participants were comparable on basis of their age, height, and weight.
- Both the groups were tested for areal bone mineral density at various body parts and specific sites in the right femur, using dual X-ray absorptiometry. The range of sites included the total body, head, lumbar spine, right femoral neck, Ward’s triangle, trochanter, the whole dominant and nondominant humerus, and parts of the right femur and tibia.
- An isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure both concentric and eccentric peak torque of the quadricep and hamstring muscles, thus assessing the muscle strength in the thigh area.
Findings
- No significant differences were found in the bone mass between horse riders and non-riders, which suggests that horseback riding may not directly increase bone density in young females.
- Horse riders were found to have significantly stronger thigh muscles, particularly in terms of concentric hamstring strength at both 90 and 225 degrees per second, and eccentric quadricep and hamstring strength at 90 degrees per second.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that horseback riding in young females positively impacts the muscle strength of the thigh region. However, despite the physical exertion experienced during horseback riding, it does not necessarily contribute to an increased bone mass in the riders.
Cite This Article
APA
Alfredson H, Hedberg G, Bergström E, Nordström P, Lorentzon R.
(1998).
High thigh muscle strength but not bone mass in young horseback-riding females.
Calcif Tissue Int, 62(6), 497-501.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s002239900468 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Sports Medicine Unit, University of Umeâ, Umeâ, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Animals
- Bone Density
- Bone and Bones / physiology
- Female
- Femur / physiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Sports / physiology
- Thigh
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Cejudo A, Ginés-Díaz A, Rodríguez-Ferrán O, Santonja-Medina F, Sainz de Baranda P. Trunk Lateral Flexor Endurance and Body Fat: Predictive Risk Factors for Low Back Pain in Child Equestrian Athletes. Children (Basel) 2020 Oct 9;7(10).
- Kim SK, Kim SG, HwangBo G. The effect of horse-riding simulator exercise on the gait, muscle strength and muscle activation in elderly people with knee osteoarthritis. J Phys Ther Sci 2017 Apr;29(4):693-696.
- Kim SK, HwangBo G. The effects of horse-riding simulator exercise on balance in elderly with knee osteoarthritis. J Phys Ther Sci 2017 Mar;29(3):387-389.
- Hitchens P, Blizzard L, Jones G, Day L, Fell J. Are physiological attributes of jockeys predictors of falls? A pilot study. BMJ Open 2011 Jun 23;1(1):e000142.
- Hosaka Y, Nagasaki M, Bajotto G, Shinomiya Y, Ozawa T, Sato Y. Effects of daily mechanical horseback riding on insulin sensitivity and resting metabolism in middle-aged type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Nagoya J Med Sci 2010 Aug;72(3-4):129-37.
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