Karatosun Hilmi, Erdogan Ali, Yildiz Mustafa, Akgun Celal, Cetin Cem
Department of Sports Medicine, Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
Saudi Med J. 2006 Mar;27(3):312-6.
To investigate the possible effects of regular swimming exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) compared with free activity after cast immobilization of rats.
We carried out the study from April 2005 to June 2005 at the Department of Sports Medicine, Medical School of Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. The study included a total of 24 female Wistar rats. The rats were randomized to control (n = 6), swimming training (ST) n = 9, and free mobilization (FM) n = 9 groups. We measured Bone mineral densities of femur and vertebra of all rats with a total body scanner using software specifically designed for small animals, before study started and at weeks 3 and 7. Timepoints corresponded to basal, after cast removal (ACIM), and after 3 weeks of free mobilization (AFM) or swimming training (AST). We immobilized the right hindlimb of each ST and FM animal with a cast while the left hindlimbs were kept free. After 3 weeks, the casts were removed. Then we allowed the rats to move freely in their cage for one week, after which the animals in ST group started to swim for 5 days a week for 3 weeks for 30 minutes per day. The group FM rats moved freely in the cage.
Bone mineral density of the femur and vertebra after cast immobilization was significantly decreased compared with both their basal and age-matched control group. After mobilization, significant increases occurred in both groups according to ACIM. Similar but milder changes were observed in free limbs femur BMD of rats. Interestingly, vertebra BMD of swimming group was also higher than its age-matched control group (p<0.05).
Our study showed that swimming exercise had a significant rehabilitative effect on BMD loss associated with immobilization. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of swimming on other bone properties.
与大鼠石膏固定后的自由活动相比，研究规律游泳锻炼对骨密度（BMD）的可能影响。
2005年4月至2005年6月，我们在土耳其伊斯帕尔塔市苏莱曼·德米雷尔大学医学院运动医学系开展了该研究。该研究共纳入24只雌性Wistar大鼠。将大鼠随机分为对照组（n = 6）、游泳训练组（ST，n = 9）和自由活动组（FM，n = 9）。在研究开始时以及第3周和第7周，使用专门为小动物设计的软件，通过全身扫描仪测量所有大鼠股骨和椎骨的骨密度。时间点分别对应基础值、去除石膏后（ACIM）以及自由活动或游泳训练3周后（AFM或AST）。我们用石膏固定每组ST和FM动物的右后肢，而左后肢保持自由。3周后，去除石膏。然后让大鼠在笼中自由活动1周，之后ST组的动物开始每周游泳5天，持续3周，每天游30分钟。FM组大鼠在笼中自由活动。
与基础值及其年龄匹配的对照组相比，石膏固定后股骨和椎骨的骨密度显著降低。活动后，两组与ACIM相比均有显著增加。在大鼠自由侧肢体股骨骨密度中观察到类似但较轻微的变化。有趣的是，游泳组的椎骨骨密度也高于其年龄匹配的对照组（p<0.05）。
我们的研究表明，游泳锻炼对与固定相关的骨密度损失有显著的康复作用。需要进一步研究来探讨游泳对其他骨骼特性的影响。
