Published in:
01-02-2004 | Original Article
Low bone mineral density in professional scuba divers
Published in: Clinical Rheumatology | Issue 1/2004
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Scuba diving is associated with a 90% reduction in effective weight and with the loss of a weight-bearing effect on joints. These conditions are very similar to the continuous weightlessness that occurs in spaceflight and bed-rest, which are clearly associated with significant bone mass loss. Here, we studied the bone mineral density (BMD) of 66 professional scuba divers using a dual-photon densitometer, and have depicted a reduction in the BMD in comparison to a matched control group of non-divers. Our results suggest that diving is also an activity where the unloading effect alters bone metabolism, leading to a reduction in BMD.