Bhubaneswar :  In a first-of-its-kind initiative for young athletes at Kalinga Stadium, a free-of-cost Bone Mineral Density screening camp was conducted on Saturday. The aim was to detect possible bone-related deficiencies in 150 state-level and budding athletes, who are currently training at the Kalinga Stadium, at a young age. Early detection helps in prevention of injuries among sportspersons.

The camp was organised by Sports Science India (SSI), founded by sports science expert and surgeon, Dr Sarthak Patnaik. The camp focused on assessing the bone health of athletes using DEXA-based portable scanners. The non-invasive tests provided detailed readings of bone strength and mineral levels, allowing coaches and physiotherapists to understand each athlete’s structural readiness for high-performance training. “Our aim is to promote grassroots sports, and this kind of screening is essential for building strong, injury-resistant athletes across the state,” Patnaik said.

According to Dinesh Suri, the Chief Operating Officer of Odisha’s Athletics Project, driven by the Sports & Youth Services Department (DSYS), this initiative is significant as often the bone screening is not done for young athletes. “The elite athletes undergo such tests. But early detection has its own advantage. Low BMD often goes unnoticed but significantly increases the chances of stress fractures, especially in high-impact sports. So, if we can assess the bone health early, we can design better training for athletes,” Suri said.

The initiative has been widely welcomed by coaches and trainers, who believe that regular BMD checks will help Odisha athletes train smarter and stay injury-free during competitive seasons

Why BMD screening matters for athletes?

Bone Mineral Density indicates the amount of essential minerals—primarily calcium and phosphorus—present in bones. It is a key measure of bone strength and an important predictor of injury risk. 

Sports scientists highlight four major reasons why athletes need BMD screening:

Injury Prevention: Detects low BMD early, reducing stress fracture risk in sports like running, gymnastics, and other high-impact disciplines.

RED-S Screening: Helps identify bone loss caused by Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), a condition that affects performance, recovery, and energy balance.

Performance Optimization: Strong bones contribute to better resilience during heavy training; resistance training programmes are often used to increase bone density.

Monitoring Adaptation: Allows long-term tracking of how training loads and strength programmes impact bone health over time.

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