Recreational football training preserves bone health in women 
over 9 years during the menopause transition

Magni Mohr; May-Britt Skoradal; Tórur Sjúrðarson; Niklas R. Jørgensen; Jann Mortensen; Peter Krustrup

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.154145

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

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1/2026
vol. 43

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abstract:

Original paper

Recreational football training preserves bone health in women over 9 years during the menopause transition

Magni Mohr

^{1, 2}

,

May-Britt Skoradal

¹

,

Tórur Sjúrðarson

¹

,

Niklas R. Jørgensen

^{3, 4}

,

Jann Mortensen

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Peter Krustrup

^{7, 8}

Center of Health Science, Faculty of Health, University of the Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, SDU Sport and Health Sciences Cluster (SHSC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Department of Medicine, The Faroese National Hospital, Torshavn, Faroe Islands
Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Sport and Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

Biol Sport. 2026;43:281–290

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154145

Online publish date: 2025/09/09

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We examined the long-term effects of recreational football training on bone mineralization, osteogenic activity, and physical function in women during the menopause transition. 25 women (45±4 yrs at recruitment) were randomized into an exercise group (EXE; n = 12) completing 1-h football training sessions on average 1.7/wk for a consecutive 9-yr period or an inactive control group (CON; n = 13). Pre and post, we measured bone mineralization and lean body mass, plasma bone turnover markers, and sprint performance. Significant time×group interactions were for leg BMD, leg BMC, femur shaft BMD, CTX-I, PINP, leg lean mass, and sprint performance (all p < 0.01), favoring the exercise group. Leg bone mineral density (BMD) decreased (P = 0.002) by 0.05 g/cm² [-0.08;-0.02] in CON, but was maintained in EXE, resulting in a higher leg BMD in EXE than CON (P = 0.02). Leg bone mineral content (BMC) increased in EXE (time×group, P = 0.005) resulting in a 56 g [4;108] higher (P = 0.04) total leg BMC in EXE compared to CON. A between-group effect existed in favor of EXE for femur shaft BMD (time×group, P = 0.005). Plasma CTX-I and PINP increased (both P = 0.001) by 95% [43;147] and 64% [29–100] following EXE only (time×group, P = 0.003 and 0.02). Leg lean mass increased (P < 0.001) by 1.5 kg [1.0;2.1] in EXE (time×group, P = 0.006). Finally, sprint performance was maintained in EXE but declined (P < 0.001) by 10% [5;14] in CON (time×group, P = 0.002). Recreational football training (on average 1.7 sessions per week) over 9 years preserves leg bone health, muscle mass and functional capacity in women during the menopause transition.

keywords:

Recreational football training preserves bone health in women over 9 years during the menopause transition

Magni Mohr 1, 2 , May-Britt Skoradal 1 , Tórur Sjúrðarson 1 , Niklas R. Jørgensen 3, 4 , Jann Mortensen 4, 5, 6 , Peter Krustrup 7, 8

Football, Bone mineral density, Bone mineral content, Bone turnover markers, Lean body mass, Physical performance

Magni Mohr

^{1, 2}

,

May-Britt Skoradal

¹

,

Tórur Sjúrðarson

¹

,

Niklas R. Jørgensen

^{3, 4}

,

Jann Mortensen

^{4, 5, 6}

,

Peter Krustrup

^{7, 8}