Menu

HomeHow it worksContact UsContact Us

The Relationship Between Muscle Strength and Jump Height with Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in Elite Female Soccer Players: The Mediating Role of Lean Body Mass

Mora-Fernández A, Palacios Gil-Antuñano N, Rodríguez-Gómez I, Vázquez Colomo C, Romero-Moraleda B, Buendía-Romero Á et al. · Preprints.org · 2026

This study examined how muscle strength and jump ability relate to bone mineral density in 28 elite female soccer players, and whether lean body mass explains this relationship. The researchers found that lean body mass significantly mediates the connection between muscle strength and bone density at multiple skeletal sites, suggesting that building muscle mass—not just strength alone—is important for bone health.
Takeaway: Combine soccer training with strength work to build lean mass and optimize bone density in female athletes.
Abstract (source)

Soccer is one of the most widely practiced and studied sports worldwide. The increasing professionalization of women’s soccer has raised interest in bone health. This study aimed to analyze the mediating role of lean body mass in the association between muscle strength, jump height, and bone mineral density (BMD) in elite female soccer players. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 28 players from the Spanish national soccer team. Muscle strength was assessed using estimated 1RM in the deadlift, jump height through the countermovement jump (CMJ) test, and BMD using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Lean body mass significantly mediated the association between muscle strength and BMD at the lumbar spine (B = 0.0020, 95% CI [0.0001–0.0049]), femoral neck (B = 0.0020, 95% CI [0.0003–0.0052]), and whole body (B = 0.0019, 95% CI [0.0005–0.0038]). These

Results: suggest that muscle strength alone may not fully explain inter-individual differences in bone mass and that lean body mass may play an important role in this relationship Combining soccer practice with appropriate strength training may contribute to optimizing bone health, preventing injuries and fractures, and reducing future age-related bone loss. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these

Findings: .

Primary studyResistance Training & Hypertrophy
Read the original →

Related in Resistance Training & Hypertrophy

The Resistance Training Dose Response: Meta-Regressions Exploring the Effects of Weekly Volume and Frequency on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength GainsEffects of Advanced Resistance Training Systems on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength in Recreationally Trained Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisCreatine supplementation and resistance training: a comparison between novice and experienced lifters — a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysisThe effects of velocity-based vs. percentage-based resistance training on sports performance in trained individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysisPower in the flow: how menstrual experiences shape women's strength training performanceEffectiveness of Whole-Body Vibration Therapy on Handgrip Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.