Bone mineral density and bone stress fractures in high-level endurance runners and combat sports: a cross-sectional study

Slide_Men_Kendo

Men strike motion in kendo eighth dan practitioners: a time series analysis of joint and shinai angle commonalities and variability

Eighth dan kendo practitioners share stable technical features in men strike with selective scope for individual adapxation

Slide_Stress

Stress coping strategies of teenagers who engage in various types of physical activity

Mandatory health education and the promotion of physical activity should serve as effective means of supporting teenagers in coping with stress

Slide_ICF

An ICF-based approach to evaluating the functional profile and independence in the daily life of people after Spinal Cord Injury participating in the Foundation for Active Rehabilitation camp

The three types of visualization proposed in the article can be used by therapy-instructional teams to plan targeted interventions.

Slide_Casual

Personality traits in male judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes with the use of different questionnaires

It seems advisable to introduce appropriate pedagogical and psychotherapeutic content into combat sports training to reduce the negative impact of personality traits on mental and physical health.

Slide_Casual

Causal association between physical activity and knee osteoarthritis

The LPA and MVPA within a specific dose range were associated with a reduced risk of KOA, and high-dose PA
was associated with an increased risk of KOA

Slide_Correlation2

Correlations between the intensity of health behaviour and the quality of life of people practicing karate, football and physical recreation

Moderate correlations between the intensity of health behaviours and the respondents' quality of life do not fully explain these relationships

Slide_methodoli

Methodological dilemmas concerning measuring of mental and social health: a narrative review

Methodological dilemmas concerning mental and social health measurement mainly revolve around a semantic layer of validation (construct and content validity) of indices of these health dimensions.

Slide_The_Injured

Injury patterns in collegiate demonstration taekwondo athletes using association rules

The conjunction of the results of these pioneering observations with the most general mission of innovative agonology is an evidence-based argument that this science meets social expectations

Slide_Correlation2

Gender difference in health benefits from taekwondo participation as a physical activity ‒ meta-analysis

Although taekwondo is an effective physical health promotion exercise for both men and women, gender differences in agility and flexibility improvements were found

Slide_Correlation2

The mediating effect of challenge on the relationship between competition preparation, deliberate practice, and goal commitment in combat sport athletes

These findings suggest that fostering a challenge-oriented mindset may enhance athletes’ engagement in purposeful training and strengthen their commitment to goals.

Slide_demog

Demographically adjusted demand for health care hospital treatment services for the years: 2027; 2033; 2039 and 2045 in Poland

The projections presented provide a set of visions for the future of population health needs

Details: Category: 2025, Volume 21; 22 October 2025; Hits: 458

Anna Kopiczko¹, Joanna Cieplińska², Patrycja Widłak¹, Artur Kruszewski³

¹Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland
² Department of Clinical Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland
³ Department of Individual Sports, Faculty of Physical Education, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland,

Author for correspondence: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anna Kopiczko: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1222-113X
Joanna Cieplińska: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-6741
Patrycja Widłak: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3433-1310
Artur Kruszewski: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8248-7964

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Combat sports and endurance training significantly affect bone mineral density (BMD), although to varying degrees. Bone stress fractures (BSF) are a relatively recent and not yet fully understood issue in professional athletes. Research has not yet fully resolved the problem of BSF and low BMD, depending on the type of sport. This study aims to identify BMD in the hip and lumbar spine, as well as the incidence of BSF in adult Polish professional long-distance runners and combat sports athletes.

Material and Methods: The study included 60 endurance sports (cross-country running, half marathon, marathon, ultra running,) and 69 combat sports (Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, wrestling). The following research methods were used: densitometry, kinanthropometry, bioelectrical impedance, and standardized injury questionnaires.

Results: Individuals practicing in the endurance runners group had significantly lower all bone indicators compared to the combat sports athletes (large effects: >0.8), and significantly higher number of BSF in life (medium effect: 0.5 to 0.8). Femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD below the expected range for age was observed only in endurance sports. A significantly higher percentage of athletes without BSF was recorded in the combat sports group. The results of covariance analyses showed that BMD in the femoral neck was significantly influenced by muscle mass, number of BSF, and sport types (adj. R2 = 0.731). Bone mass was affected by the body height and type of sports (adj. R2 = 0.393). Z-score was influenced by the number of BSF and sport type (adj. R² = 0.722). All analysed bone indicators in the lumbar spine were significantly influenced by muscle mass and the type of sport.

Conclusions: In this study, there was a large and strong relationship between history of bone stress fracture, sport type, and bone mineral status. A significant fracture and sport type interaction was observed. This suggests that the effect of fracture on the femoral Z-score varies across sport types. Recommendations based on systematic diagnosis of bone mineral status can effectively prevent stress fractures in sports.

Keywords: bone fractures, bone mineral status, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, half marathon, judo, marathon, ultra running, cross-country running, wrestling,

AMA:
Kopiczko A, Cieplińska J, Widłak P, Kruszewski A. Bone mineral density and bone stress fractures in high-level endurance runners and combat sports: a cross-sectional study. Arch Budo J Inn Agon. 2025;21.
APA:
Kopiczko, A., Cieplińska, J., Widłak, P., & Kruszewski, A. (2025). Bone mineral density and bone stress fractures in high-level endurance runners and combat sports: a cross-sectional study. Arch Budo Journal of Innovation and Agonology, 21.
Chicago:
Kopiczko, Anna, Joanna Cieplińska, Patrycja Widłak, and Artur Kruszewski. 2025. "Bone Mineral Density and Bone Stress Fractures in High-Level Endurance Runners and Combat Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study." Arch Budo Journal of Innovation and Agonology 21.
Harvard:
Kopiczko, A., Cieplińska, J., Widłak, P. and Kruszewski, A. (2025). Bone mineral density and bone stress fractures in high-level endurance runners and combat sports: a cross-sectional study. Arch Budo Journal of Innovation and Agonology, 21.
MLA:
Kopiczko, Anna, Joanna Cieplińska, Patrycja Widłak, and Artur Kruszewski. "Bone Mineral Density and Bone Stress Fractures in High-Level Endurance Runners and Combat Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study." Arch Budo Journal of Innovation and Agonology, vol. 21, 2025.
Vancouver:
Kopiczko A, Cieplińska J, Widłak P, Kruszewski A. Bone mineral density and bone stress fractures in high-level endurance runners and combat sports: a cross-sectional study. Arch Budo J Inn Agon. 2025;21.

OUR POLICY

Mission of ARCHBUDO

The specific mission of the Archives of Budo 2023 is to strive for a breakthrough in public perception of a broad class of combat sports and martial arts as specific means of innovative agonology.