Effects of swimming training and chronic caffeine intake on bone tissue of young rats were investigated. Young Wistar rats were allocated into 4 groups: sedentary control (SCO), sedentary + caffeine (SCAF), trained (TCO) and trained + caffeine (TCAF); they received 1 mg/ml of caffeine diluted in water for 30 days (SCAF and TCAF) and were submitted to swimming training of moderate intensity for 21 days (TCO and TCAF). The left tibia was subjected to the biomechanical test for determination of the coefficient of stiffness, yield and maximum load. The immature bone tissue area and thickness of growth plates were evaluated in the femur. No changes were observed in biomechanical properties and the area occupied by immature bone tissue. However, SCAF group presented greater thickness in distal growth plate. The results suggest that the moderate intensity swimming training and caffeine consumption were not able to promote changes in morphology and biomechanical properties of bone tissue.
Bone; Caffeine; Exercise
