The Comparison of Bone Mineral Content (BMC) and Bone Area in Professional Water Polo Players and Non-Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between bone mineral content (BMC) and bone area of the lumbar vertebral and femur in professional water polo players and their non-athlete male counterparts. This investigation was in the form of a comparative and cause-effect study. 17 professional male water polo players presence in the national team of Iran with having average age (23.06±1.70 yr), height (179.73±4.25 cm), weight (78.92±9.94 kg), participating background in water polo (8±1.2 yr) together with 17 healthy male non-athletes with having average age (25.83±2.59 yr), height (168.94±8.06 cm), and weight (65.84±9.69 kg). BMC and bone area were measured with Dual energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Data analysis was done by descriptive and inferential (T-test) statistical methods using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 16). The obtained results in this study showed that there is significant difference between lumbar vertebral and femur BMC of the participants, respectively (T=4.15, P=0.001 and T=7.63 P=0.001). Also, significant difference for bone area of the lumbar vertebral and femur was observed among participants, respectively (T=4.04, P=0.001 and T=4.45, P=0.001). But there was no significant difference between L4 bone area of the participants (T=1.86, P=0.072). The results of this research clarified that Water polo exercise can be an effective factor on BMC and bone area increase.