Potential Benefits of Marathon Training on Bone Health as Assessed by Calcaneal Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of marathon race participants and compare this information with previously obtained normative data. BUA was assessed using the McCue CUBA clinical device in 217 male and 184 female runners, aged 20–93yr, participating in the 2004 Flora London Marathon. The normative data included 267 men and 334 women, aged 20–80yr. A significantly higher mean BUA ( p p