Bone asymmetries in children tennis players

This study assessed the magnitude and change (with age and training volume) of upper and lower limb bone growth with emphasis on bilateral asymmetry and in relation to sex and maturity (Tanner stage).
Weight, height and sitting height were measured using a professional anthropometric tool according to standard procedures (Wunder R150).
The sexual maturity status was determined using the Tanner scale.
Typical training history data were collected via guided interviews of parents, children, and coaches. This data included the age (and approximate month) at which they started playing tennis (starting age), the number of months per year of playing/training (m/y), and the hours per week (h/w) at each successive month of the entire career span. We then calculated the total hours of training/playing, namely total training volume.
Using Dual‐Energy X‐ray Absorptiometry (DXA) we measured BMC and BA per child and body side (EnCore2006 software; Lunar prodigy advance, GE Medical System, Madison, WI USA).