Somatotype, Body Composition and Proportionality in Polish Top Greco-Roman Wrestlers

• Authors: Katarzyna Sterkowicz-Przybycień , Stanisław Sterkowicz , Ryszard Żarów
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The objective of the paper was to determine body composition and somatotype of male Greco-Roman wrestlers grouped by different weight categories and level of competition. Twenty three contestants (aged 24.9±5.5 years, training experience 13.7±5.8 years) were examined during their competitive period. They were divided into heavier (n=12) and lighter weight categories (n=11). Twelve of them took part in Olympic Qualification Tournaments, whereas six others participated in the Olympic Games in Athens. An experienced evaluator performed 10 measurements necessary to designate Heath-Carter somatotypes and additional skinfolds to estimate the percentage of body fat and body composition. Heavier wrestlers (weight=92.4 kg) exhibited more endomorphy and mesomorphy than lighter wrestlers (weight=70.1 kg). Heavier wrestlers were characterized by higher BMI, fat mass, fat percentage and fat free mass index than wrestlers in lighter weight categories. Sports level was evaluated with discriminant analysis which revealed significant results (p<0.01) with canonical correlation coefficient of 0.754, and Wilks' λ=0.431. Discriminant function=0.593774*Training Experience-0.300177*EN+0.627894*ME-0.242241*EC - 0.636081*Pelvis/Shoulder Ratio. Among the 23 observations used to fit the model, 19 (82.6%) were correctly classified. When compared with untrained subjects, wrestlers exhibited higher body mass (81.8 vs. 72.1 kg, t=3.15, p<0.01) and lower height-weight ratio (40.50 vs. 43.21, t=13.5, p<0.001). Wrestlers' somatotypes differed from those of untrained subjects (2.0-6.6-1.2 vs. 3.7-4.3-3.1). They were also characterized by lower adiposity (12.1 vs. 15.7%, t=7.84, p<0.001).In conclusion, body build and composition in wrestlers depend on their weight category. In heavier categories, characteristic type is endomorph-mesomorph, whereas lighter weight categories are dominated by balanced mesomorph. A considerable difference in endomorphy and indices of body composition can also be observed. Higher sport experience with lower endomorphy (tendencies for lower fat content) and Pelvis/Shoulder Ratio are interrelated with higher competition level presented by wrestlers.

Keywords

EN

endomorphy; mesomorphy; ectomorphy; sports level; wrestling

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Journal of Human Kinetics
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 28
• Pages: 141-154

Dates

published

1 - 6 - 2011

online

4 - 7 - 2011

Contributors

author

Katarzyna Sterkowicz-Przybycień

• Chair of Theory and Methodology of Gymnastics, University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland

author

Stanisław Sterkowicz

• Department of Theory and Methodology of Combat Sports, University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland

author

Ryszard Żarów

• Chair of Anthropology, University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/v10078-011-0031-z