To throw and kick the ball, most players use a dominant hand or leg which may
increase bone mineral density (BMD) of dominant limb. The aim of this study was
to compare BMD of dominant and non–dominant hand and leg of professional
female handball players. 15 professional handball players (Mean SD: age
23.6+3.1 yr, height 169.4+3.6 cm, weight 62.9+5.7 kg) participated in this study.
Bone mineral density of radius (dominant and non – dominant hand), femoral neck
and trochanter (dominant and non – dominant leg) were measured by dual energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results of this study showed no significant
difference in BMD between dominant (381.7mg/cm2) and non – dominant hand
(384.3mg/cm2) in handball players (P>0.05). But a significant difference was
observed in BMD between dominant (925.4mg/cm2) and non – dominant leg
(956.4mg/cm2) as BMD of non – dominant leg was about 10% higher than
dominant leg (P<0.05). BMD of dominant and non – dominant legs was
significantly greater than dominant and non – dominant hands (P<0.05). Lower
extremities had significantly higher BMD than upper extremities (P<0.05). In
contrast, upper body had significantly higher BMD than lower body (P<0.05). It
can be concluded that involvement of non – dominant leg in taking off, start, stop,
jump and land more and more increases BMD in handball players.