Date of Award
2007
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Kinesiology
Supervisor
Dr Greg Marsh
Second Advisor
Dr. Graydon Raymar
Third Advisor
Dr. Charles Rice
Abstract
Bone geometry of the tibia and fibula was examined in young, old and very old women to investigate the effects of aging on weight bearing and non-weight bearing bone in a functional setting. Contiguous transverse MRI (3Telsa IMRIS Scanner) scans were done perpendicular to the right leg and produced images of the upper and lower 1/3 of the tibia and fibula in nine young women (23±2.0y), seven old women (65 ±3.3y) and seven very old women (76±2.5y). Significant differences were seen between the young and old as well as young and very old age groups for the upper tibia cortical volume (UTCV) and upper fibula cortical volume (UFCV). There was also significant difference between the young and very old for the upper tibia medullary volume (UTMV) as well as a significant difference between the young and very old and old and very old in the lower fibula medullary volume (LFMV). No significant differences were seen between the age groups for the upper fibula medullary volume (UFMV), lower tibia cortical volume (LTCV), lower fibula cortical volume (LFCV) and the lower tibia medullary volume (LTMV. Differences between the three age groups suggest that although the fibula is a non-weight bearing bone, it undergoes less geometric change with aging when compared to the weight bearing tibia. Differences between the upper and lower 1/3 portions of the two bones suggest that weight bearing may help attenuate bone loss in the lower 1/3 of the leg more so then in the upper 1/3.
Recommended Citation
Johnstone, Jennifer Anne, "Leg bone geometry changes in women with age" (2007). Digitized Theses. 4942.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4942