Recent research examined the influence of sport specific training on bone mass and relative strength in short and long distance runners. Scientists studied 154 senior master athletes, including 45 short and 109 long distance runners between the ages of 35 to 95. Individual bone mass measurements were evaluated on the lumbar spinal column. Measurements were also taken for the proximal femur, handgrip strength, and jumping ability.
The overall results indicated a very close correlation between bone mass and muscle strength. The short and long distance runners who displayed higher muscle capacity also had higher bone mass levels. The short distance runners also surpassed the levels for peak bone mass in a healthy populations of adults and compared to the long distance runners.
