Cortical bone, body size, and skeletal maturity in ice hockey players 10 to 12 years of age.

Cortical bone dimensions of the second metacarpal were analyzed relative to chronological age, skeletal maturity and body size in 280 ice hockey players 10 through 12 years of age. Defencemen had the largest cortical bone dimensions, followed by forwards and goalkeepers respectively. After removing the effects of height, weight, chronological age, and skeletal age by analysis of covariance procedures, boys at the forward position had larger estimated periosteal diameter, cortical thickness, and cortical area, than either defencemen of goalkeepers. Compared to non-athletic boys from Montreal and Philadelphia, the young hockey players had a larger periosteal diameter, cortical thickness, and cortical area for the same stature. The results suggest a possible role for the effects of physical activity on cortical bone deposition.