Effects of Taekwondo Training on Bone Mineral Density of High School Girls in Korea

Date: 12/5/2017 11:12:00 AM

Abstract:

The incidence of bone fractures has increased in the current decade due to osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD), or the amount of mineralized bone, is an important determinant of risk for bone fractures. Bone mineralization is strongly stimulated by weight-bearing exercise during growth and development. Taekwondo, a Korean martial art, is a well-known form of strenuous and weight-bearing physical activity. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to determine the effects of taekwondo training on the bone health of female high school students in Korea. The secondary goal of this study was to clarify the relationships between body weight and BMD in this sample. Thirty taekwondo players (TKD) and 30 sedentary high school girls (CON) voluntarily participated in the present study and were split into three groups by weight&58; light weight (L) under 51 kg&59; middle weight (M) between 51 and under 57 kg&59; and heavy weight (H) over 57 kg. BMD was determined from dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and percent body fat was measured by the skin-fold method. Lumbar spine and femoral BMD were not significantly different between light, middle and heavy body weight groups. However, the average BMD in the TKD group was significantly greater than in the CON group for all lumbar spine regions (P&60;0.05). The results of this study suggest that taekwondo training during growth significantly improved bone health in all weight groups.

 

(Authors: S. Young Ho; J. Hyun Lyung; K. Ho Youl)