Forearm bone mineral density in adult men after spinal cord injuries: impact of physical activity level, smoking status, body composition, and muscle strength

This study investigates the impact of physical activity, smoking, body composition, and muscle strength on bone health in the upper limbs of men with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It compares bone mineral density (BMD) between active (wheelchair rugby players) and inactive men with SCI. The research reveals that active male smokers after SCI have significantly lower BMD and T-scores compared to non-smokers. Physical activity is identified as a positive predictor of bone mineral content (BMC). The study concludes that rugby can be considered beneficial for forearm BMD, and physically active men after SCI have higher bone parameters. However, active smoking can diminish the protective effect of physical activity on bone health.

• 1
  Active male smokers after SCI had significantly lower BMD dis, BMC dis and prox, T-score dis, and prox than male non-smokers after SCI.
• 2
  Physical activity was a significant predictor (positive direction) for BMC prox (adjusted R2 = 0.56; p < 0.001).
• 3
  Non-smoking physically active men after SCI had the most advantageous values of mean forearm BMD.