Bellew, J. W., Gehrig, L., & Gehrig, G. (2002). A comparison of bone mineral density in adolescent female weight lifters, swimmers, and tennis players. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(5), Supplement abstract 781.

Bone densities of adolescent females in sports of varied magnitudes of skeletal loading were compared. Olympic style lifters (N = 19), swimmers (N = 29), and tennis players (N = 14) served as Ss.

There were no significant differences between sports. When compared to World Health Organization norms, swimmers were significantly less than expected for adult females while tennis players and weight lifters were "normal".

Implication. Weight bearing activities produced accelerated bone accrual in adolescent females. Non-weight bearing activities, in this case swimming, did not improve bone density.

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