Bone Abstracts

Objectives: Over the last several years, the Monofin has appeared with increasing regularity at swim practices throughout the world. Physical activity during childhood is advocated as one strategy for enhancing peak bone mass as a means to reduce osteoporosis. Clinical studies have found that non-impact sport like swimming are associated with normal to low bone densities. Little is known about the influence of monofin swimming during childhood on lumbar spine mass. This is a novel descriptive study examining bone mass indices in prepubertal monofin children, and to quantify structural bone lumbar spine adaptation of monofin – as a non-weight-bearing sport, and compare the results with non active healthy age-matched children, and the potential determine the effects of monofin training on bone health.

Methods: Monofin children athletes (n=14) who had been training for a minimum of 3 years with a volume of 10/h, aged (12.7±2.6 years), were compare to age-matched control non-active healthy children (n=14), aged (13.04 years). All groups underwent Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine bone density (BMD (g/cm²)), bone mineral content (BMC (g)), and bone area (cm²) of lumbar spine (L1–L4) were assessed. Anthropometric parameter (weight–height, chest G – leg length), vertical jump was measured. Statically methods SPSS, mean±S.D., paired t-test were used.

Results: BMD, BMC, and area of lumbar spine of monofin children was significantly greater than control (P=0.01), BMD (1.07±0.08 vs 0.74±0.05 g/cm²), BMC (44.8±2.6 vs 26.9±2.7 (g)), area (67.7±2.03 vs 49.4±2.31 cm²). Anthropometrical and muscular power (vertical jump) of monofin was significantly (P=0.01) greater than controls, chest girth (cm) (83.1±3.2 vs 59.7±3.6), leg length (cm) (78.2±3.7 vs 66.5±1.7), vertical jump (cm) (39.6±2.5 vs 23±1.6).

Conclusion: Participation in monofin training may enhance BMD, BMC, and area of lumbar spine in prebubertal children, and demonstrate superior morphological shape and fitness, and improved body composition. These positive physiological, anthropometrical, and bone health effects suggest the brisk monofin training can be considered as a useful activity for osteogenic stimulus among prepubertal children.