Modelling changes in bone and body composition over a season in elite male footballers

This study investigated the change in bone and body composition characteristics of elite football players and recreationally active control participants across the course of a season. Forty-six participants (20 footballers and 26 recreationally active controls) were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography for a range of bone and body composition characteristics at four points over the course of a competitive season. Multilevel modelling was used to examine changes. Footballers had higher characteristics than controls for 24 out of 29 dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography variables (all p<0.05), however, there was also significant random inter-individual variation in baseline values for all variables, for both footballers and controls (p<0.05). Whole-body bone mineral density, leg and whole-body bone mineral content, tibial bone mass and area (38%) increased across the season in footballers (p<0.05), and there was significant random inter-individual variation in the rate of increase of leg and whole-body bone mineral content (p