Bone Mineral Density Changes In NCAA Division I Female Soccer Players During Collegiate Career

Body composition changes are known to occur in athletes because of performance goals and modifications in training, nutrition, and overall health. Bone density changes in female athletes are of particular interest due to their implications for short- and long-term health, performance, and injury risk. While some studies have compared women’s soccer total body composition changes between the on- and off-season, few have explored changes in bone density over the course of an entire collegiate career. PURPOSE: To analyze changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in female Division I soccer players over the course of their collegiate playing career. METHODS: Female soccer players received total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans on a quarterly basis from 2010-2022. Athletes were asked to abstain from physical activity and food for 1 hour prior to the scan, wear fitted athletics attire and remove all metal and jewelry. Total BMD and BMD of the legs, pelvis, and spine were analyzed. A total of 116 athletes received multiple DXA scans (ALL analysis), with 34 athletes having >3 years (3Y analysis) of DXA data available. Linear mixed models were used to determine changes in BMD measurements. RESULTS: The ALL analysis yielded significant increases over time in total BMD (0.000013 g/cm2/day; p = 0.01) and spine BMD (0.000044 g/cm2/day; p < 0.001) but did not show changes over time in leg BMD or pelvis BMD. The 3Y analysis showed significant increases in total BMD (0.000012 g/cm2/day; p = 0.05) and spine BMD (0.000048 g/cm2/day; p < 0.001) over time, without changes in leg or pelvis BMD. CONCLUSION: Female Division I soccer players experienced significant increases in total BMD and spine BMD over the course of their collegiate playing careers. These positive changes in BMD may serve as a foundation for long-term bone health in female soccer players beyond their collegiate playing careers.