Geometry of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine: the effect of atypical high-impact modalities between playing units in young adult male rugby union football players

Bell, W., Evans, W. D.

and Darlington, S. E. 2010. Geometry of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine: the effect of atypical high-impact modalities between playing units in young adult male rugby union football players. International Journal of Body Composition Research 8 (3) , pp. 95-102.

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Abstract

Objectives: To contrast the geometry of the femoral neck, and the lumbar spine (L1-L4), in atypical high impact modalities of forwards and backs in Rugby Union football players. Methods: A homogeneous group of young adult rugby union football players were classified according to position as either forwards (n=33) or backs (n=28). Lumbar spine (L1-L4) and geometric variables of the femoral neck were obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone mineral content (BMC) was adjusted for size using height, weight and bone area as independent variables. Multiple regression analysis was performed on selected variables after conversion to natural logarithms to identify power coef ficients. Independent t-tests were used to compare playing groups. Results: There were no significant differences between forwards and backs in adjusted femoral neck BMD, cortical thickness (CT), or buckling ratio (BR). However, significantly greater values were identified between groups in subperiosteal width (SW, P=0.018), cross-sectional area (CSA, P=0.0001) and section modulus (Z, P=0.003). Adjusted BMD in individual L1-L4 vertabrae were significantly larger in forwards than backs (P=0.001-0.0001). Conclusions: The contrast between forwards and backs in a dual high-loading modality game such as rugby union football, suggest that forwards in particular, but also backs, demonstrate the functional skeletal adaptations necessary to tolerate and respond to the increasing physical demands required by players.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Engineering Schools > Medicine
Date of Acceptance:	5 August 2010
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2026 14:43
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/143065

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