Body composition of young hockey players

N.V. Rilova, A.S. Samoilov, G.N. Khafizova

Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism, Kazan

Center of Sports Medicine FMBA of Russia, Moscow

Kazan State Medical University, Kazan

Introduction

Muscle and fat masses are variable components of body composition of athletes. Body composition is the result of long-term adaptation to the effects of specific training loads, and it reflects different priorities of energy mechanisms (aerobic, mixed, anaerobic). Accordingly, the level of labile body components, and their ratio may be considered as markers of different types of training. In the case of individual analysis it allows to evaluate indirectly the level of general physical fitness, adequate balance between physical work and recovery, and to focus on the priority of physical effects (Portal et al. 2010). The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of body fat and muscle mass in young male hockey players.

Methods

We examined nine young hockey players (1 group, main). Various anthropometric measurements were evaluated (weight, height, circumferences and skinfold thicknesses). The following anthropometric indices were derived from the obtained data: fat mass (FM, kg), relative FM (%), muscle mass (MM, kg), relative MM (%). For this we used modified anthropometric equations of Mateika (Lutovina et al. 1970). The results were then compared with the literature data (young male hockey players, 2 comparison group). Groups of young athletes were matched by the following parameters: body weight (31.37 ± 4.5 kg and 28.4 ± 4.5 kg, respectively), height (134.3 ± 5.75 cm and 131.4 ± 5.7 cm) and duration of sports experience (3.25 ± 1.16 years and 2.7 ± 1.5 years, respectively), age (all of young athletes were 8 years old).

Results

The two groups of young athletes showed similar measurements of the following anthropometric characteristics: relative FM (17.13±7,17% vs. 13.8 ± 8.6%, P>0.05), MM (12.07±3.96 kg vs. 12.7±2.1 kg, P>0.05). Moreover, first group of athletes had higher fat mass (5.53 ± 2.79 kg and 3.5 ± 1.9 kg, P<0.03), and lower percentage of muscle mass (38.35 ± 11.48% vs. 44.8 ± 1.8%, P<0.02) in comparison with the second group.

Discussion

Our study revealed that low levels of muscle mass and medium level of fat mass corresponded to the age of young hockey players, and pointed to the low exercise tolerance of children, especially to high intensity work. In conclusion, planning of training process should be in accordance with the age and the level of physical fitness of children.

References
Portal S. Body fat measurement in elite adolescent volleyball players: correlation between skinfold thickness, bioelectrical impedance analysis, air-displacement plethysmography, and body mass index percentiles / S. Portal, J. Rabinowitz, D. Adler-Portal et. al. / J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. - 2010. - 23 (4). - pp.395-400.