Playing soccer throughout a competitive season significantly strengthens bones and improves body composition in young players, according to a study published May 7 in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The finding is from a longitudinal dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) study, among the first the first to track bone changes across a full nine-month competitive season, noted lead author Antonio Hernandez-Martin, PhD, of the European University of Madrid in Spain, and colleagues.
"These findings describe the physiological adaptations observed during a competitive season, highlighting the musculoskeletal development that occurs in youth players during these key stages of growth," the group wrote.
Most research on soccer and bone health has relied on single-point snapshots rather than tracking the same children over time, leaving parents and coaches without a clear picture of when and how those benefits actually develop, the researchers explained. To bridge the gap, the group followed players across an entire season, with participants undergoing DEXA scans at three time points.
The researchers recruited 60 male players between 9 and 16 years old from a soccer academy in Toledo, Spain, and grouped them into four categories: under-10, under-12, under-14, and under-16. Each player underwent a DEXA scan at the start of the season, at four months, and again at nine months, to measure bone mineral content, bone density, muscle mass, and body fat.
Across all age groups, whole-body bone mineral content and leg bone mineral content increased significantly from the start to the end of the season, according to the results. Bone density also rose significantly by the end of the season. The under-16 group increased whole-body bone mineral content by approximately 3.5% and bone density by 1.8% at mid-season, which reached 5.8% and 3.6% by the end of the season.
In addition, body composition improved alongside bone health. Muscle mass increased significantly in all age groups in the second half of the season, while body-fat percentage declined across all categories by the end of the season. Lastly, the researchers noted a temporary uptick in body fat at mid-season in some groups, which they suggested may be tied to holiday breaks and reduced activity.
“The findings revealed significant improvements in all body composition and bone-related variables observed throughout the nine-month period coinciding with the [soccer] season,” the group wrote.
Ultimately, promoting bone health during childhood and adolescence is a major public health priority, as these stages are critical for the prevention of chronic bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis later in life, the group wrote. While the World Health Organization recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day for children, the guidelines do not specify which sports may be most beneficial for bone development, they added.
“These results provide valuable descriptive evidence regarding the seasonal dynamics of bone health and body composition in young footballers,” the researchers concluded.
The full study is available here.
