Somatotypes and hand-grip strength analysis of elite cadet sambo athletes

Influence of hand dominance, gender, and body mass index on hand grip strength

Background

Hand grip strength (HGS) measurements serve as an objective measure of upper extremity function. Reliable hand strength evaluation is vital for assessing treatment effectiveness.

Objectives

To determine the influence of hand dominance, gender, and body mass index (BMI) on HGS among university students in Ghana.

Method

In our cross-sectional study of 304 participants, height, weight, and BMI were measured using a stadiometer and weighing scale. Hand grip strength was assessed with a dynamometer. We compared HGS in dominant and non-dominant hands for males and females using a paired t-test and analysed the correlation between grip strength and weight, height, and BMI using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

The mean HGS for right-hand dominant (RHD) male participants was 35.62 kg (± 7.36) for the right hand compared with 32.84 kg (± 7.36) for the left hand. For females RHD the mean HGS in the right hand was 24.60 kg (± 6.42) compared to 22.12 kg (± 5.37) in the left hand. The mean weight, height and BMI of participants were 62.86 kg (± 10.30), 1.67 m (± 0.09) and 22.9 kg/m2 (± 4.9), respectively. A significant relationship existed between HGS and height (r = 0.492; p < 0.01) as well as HGS and BMI (r = 0.290; p < 0.01). However, no notable connection was found between HGS and weight (r = 0.001; p = 0.982).

Conclusion

Hand grip strength was significantly stronger in the dominant hand of both males and females.

Clinical implications

Physiotherapists should test HGS objectively and quantitatively for use in disease evaluation, diagnosis, and therapy.

CADETS' PHYSICAL HEALTH AND PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL STATE DURING COMBAT SPORT TRAINING

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To study the influence of sambo training on the dynamics of indicators of physical health and psycho-emotional state of cadets in the process of their education.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The research was conducted at the National Academy of Internal Affairs in 2018-2021. The research involved 17-23 years old male cadets. Two groups of cadets were formed: the experimental group (EG, n = 30), the cadets of which were engaged in sambo during their physical training sessions, and the control group (CG, n = 30), the cadets of which were engaged in the traditional methods of physical training sessions. The level of cadets' physical health was examined according to the method of the professor G. L. Apanasenko.

RESULTS

Results: The positive effect of sambo training on the cadets' physical health and psycho-emotional state was revealed. The EG cadets showed significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) better indicators among the studied ones than the CG cadets.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The results of the research allows coming to the conclusion that the high level of physical health and psycho-emotional state of the cadets who were engaged in sambo training will improve the effectiveness of their service tasks performance in the future.

Principles of Rapid Weight Loss in Female Sambo Athletes

In combat sports, competitors are separated into weight divisions, to create equality between the athletes. Consequently, rapid weight loss (RWL) is a common practice in combat sports. Although the methods used to induce RWL are similar among athletes, currently, there are limited data concerning the RWL methodologies used by sambo athletes. Therefore, this study aimed at determining RWL procedures among female sambo athletes. Participants in the study were top-level athletes competing at the World Sambo Championship held in Novi Sad. A total sample of 47 female sambo athletes, of whom 24 were seniors (27.3 ± 4 year/age, 1.61 ± 0.09 m/height, 61.8 ± 8.87 kg/weight) and 23 juniors (18.7 ± 0.8 year/age, 1.66 ± 0.07 m/height, 63.7 ± 12.1 kg/weight), were examined in the study. To determine RWL methods, data were collected through a standardized questionnaire. As a result, 88.7% of the female sambo athletes declared that they intentionally cut their weight before the competition. The most commonly used methods were gradual dieting, followed by sauna, fluid restriction, and skipping meals. The most considerable influence on the RWL strategies of athletes came from coaches and personal trainers, while physicians and dietitians were far less influential. The results obtained from this representative sample highlight the most common practices concerning weight cutting prior to competition among females. Therefore, there is a need to inform and educate both athletes and coaches about the potentially harmful effects of RWL in combat sports.

Patterns of rapid weight loss in elite sambo athletes

Background

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is commonly practiced in combat sports. Both magnitude and methods used to induce RWL are largely similar among combat sports, but currently, there is no data on RWL methodology used by sambo athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine RWL procedures sambo athletes apply to lose weight rapidly.

Methods

The sample consisted of 199 participants, of which 132 males and 67 females who participated in the World Sambo Championship 2020 held in Novi Sad, Serbia. Each participant received RWL questionnaire that was available in multiple languages, and every participant was instructed how to fill it out.

Results

Almost 87% of sambo participants declared to have intentionally cut their weight prior to the competition, whereby 5.27 kg (SD: ±7.57) was lost. Gradual dieting, sauna use and skipping meals were the most dominant methods used to reduce weight prior to competition while more extreme methods of RWL such as the use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills and vomiting were also implemented but by much smaller fragment of the participants involved.

Conclusions

Findings from our study largely match with previously conducted RWL studies in terms of prevalence, magnitude and methods used by combat sport athletes, especially in judo and wrestling. Knowing the hazardous consequences of RWL, alternative methods of sustainable weight loss should be considered.

Rapid Weight Loss Habits before a Competition in Sambo Athletes

BACKGROUND

Like other combat sports, sambo has competition rules that divide athletes into categories based on gender, age and weight. Athletes in combat sports often resort to rapid weight loss (RWL) methods to be more competitive in lower weight categories and gain an advantage against lighter, smaller and weaker competitors. The aim of this study was to examine the methodology implemented by two different sambo age categories, junior and senior athletes, in order to attain RWL.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 103 male sambo elite athletes (seniors/juniors: age 28.5 ± 4.3/18.9 ± 0.8; height (m): 1.7 ± 0.1/1.8 ± 0.1; weight (kg): 76.3 ± 17.8/74.4 ± 16.3; BMI (kg/m²): 25.0 ± 3.8/23.7 ± 3.9) who completed a survey on RWL.

RESULTS

Athletes reported losing a mean of 5 kg starting approximately 12 days before a competition. The most common methodology reported by senior and junior sambo athletes was gradually increasing dieting, followed by sauna and plastic suit training. Less common methods adopted were laxatives, diuretics, the use of diet pills and vomiting. There were significant group differences for sauna and diet pill ingestion. Coaches and parents are influential people in the lives of athletes concerning the weight loss strategy to be adopted.

CONCLUSIONS

This study's results unequivocally confirm the prevalent practice of RWL in both senior and junior sambo athletes. Although athletes prevalently chose "less harmful" methods, there is a need to inform parents and coaches of the risks and benefits of RWL.

Role of physique and physical fitness in the balance of Korean national snowboard athletes

Background

The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between physique, physical fitness, and balance performance for snowboard athletes.

Methods

We considered all Korean national snowboard athletes (n = 9 with 6 males and 3 females, age = 17.44 ± 4.42), who have an experience of competition at continental cup level, to measure their physique, physical fitness, and (both static and dynamic) balance. Static balance was evaluated based on one-legged standing, while dynamic balance was estimated using a stability platform.

Results

Static balance is strongly correlated (p < 0.05) with circumference of the left lower leg (34.49 ± 2.42 cm; ρ = 0.68), sit-up (57.56 ± 8.8; ρ = 0.72), sargent jump (50.22 ± 11.78 cm; ρ = 0.67), strength of bench press (39.11 ± 17.73 kg; ρ = 0.67), angle of left ankle dorsiflexion (73.78 ± 7.86°; ρ = 0.77), average extension strength at 180° for left knee (321 ± 63.95 %BW; ρ = 0.77) and right knee (337 ± 60.32 %BW; ρ = 0.77), and right knee peak flexion strength at 60° (148 ± 25.61 %BW; ρ = 0.73). Center dynamic balance is negatively correlated with circumference of the right lower leg (34.63 ± 2.38 cm; ρ = −0.67, p < 0.05), while right dynamic balance is positively correlated with left ankle flexion (148.44 ± 5.20°; ρ = 0.78, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Static balance is related to core muscle endurance and power, ankle flexibility, and knee stability, while dynamic balance is negatively correlated with circumference of the most frequently used lower leg (i.e., the leg dominating the snowboarding stance). The relationship between physique, physical fitness, and balance provides an insight into improving the balance performance of elite snowboard athletes through a training program that can affect the physique and physical fitness factors related to balance.

Handgrip Strength in Young Adults: Association with Anthropometric Variables and Laterality

The measurement of handgrip strength (HGS) is an indicator of an individual's overall strength and can serve as a predictor of morbidity and mortality. This study aims to investigate whether HGS is associated with handedness in young adults and if it is influenced by anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and sport-related parameters. We conducted a cross-sectional study on a sample of 544 young Italian adults aged 18-30 years. We measured HGS using a dynamometer and collected data on handedness and physical activity, along with anthropometric measurements. In both sexes, the HGS of the dominant side was significantly greater than that of the non-dominant side. Furthermore, in ambidextrous individuals, the right hand was stronger than the left. A comparison between the lowest and the highest tercile of HGS highlighted its significant association with anthropometric and body composition parameters in both sexes. Moreover, sex, dominant upper arm muscle area, arm fat index, fat mass, and fat-free mass were found to be significant predictors of HGS by multiple regression analysis. Our findings suggest that HGS is especially influenced by body composition parameters and handedness category. Therefore, HGS can be used as a proxy for unhealthy conditions with impairment of muscle mass, provided that the dominance in the laterality of the subject under examination is taken into account.