Undersøgelsen viste at knoglemineral indholdet var højere i lårbensknoglen og lænderyggen. På helkropsniveau var der dog ikke nogen forskel. Der var ingen forskel mellem grupperne i energiindtag og indtag af calcium. For begge grupper lå indtaget over det anbefalede indtag (adequate intake) for aldersgruppen. Der var heller ingen forskel i total fysisk aktivitet, men gymnasterne brugte mere tid på hård fysisk aktivitet, som springgymnastikken.

Undersøgelsen konkluderer:
The major finding of the present study is that premenarcheal gymnasts exhibit significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) at all sites of the total proximal femur and lumbar spine when compared to age-, height-, and weight-matched controls. Although elevated BMD has previously been demonstrated in current and former college female gymnasts compared with controls, it was less well known whether or not these differences existed in child gymnasts. og Although a genetic predisposition of a low fat mass and percent body fat but high fat free soft tissue mass and BMD for participation and success in gymnastics cannot be discounted, findings from the current study suggest that engagement in high impact loading activities by premenarcheal girls is associated with higher BMD at specific bone sites when compared with controls

Konklusionen er altså, at dyrker man idræt med stor belastning på skelettet øges knoglemineralindholdet mere end ved anden fysisk aktivitet. Endvidere er det interessant, at dette allerede kan ske før puberteten indtræder.

Hvad der endvidere er vigtigt er, at vægtbærende aktivitet med stød op gennem skelettet er den form for træning, der bedst stimulerer knogle produktionen.

Kilde:
Nickols-Richardson et al.
Premenarcheal gymnasts possess higher bone mineral density than controls
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2000;32:63