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Campa F, Bongiovanni T, Rossi A, Cerullo G, Casolo A, Martera G, Trecroci A, Moro T, Paoli A. Athletic bioimpedance-based equations underestimate fat free mass components in male elite soccer players: development and validation of new soccer-specific predictive models. J Transl Med 2023; 21:912. [PMID: 38102652 PMCID: PMC10722788 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04795-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a rapid and user-friendly technique for assessing body composition in sports. Currently, no sport-specific predictive equations are available, and the utilization of generalized formulas can introduce systematic bias. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to develop and validate new predictive models for estimating fat-free mass (FFM) components in male elite soccer players; (ii) to evaluate the accuracy of existing predictive equations. METHODS A total of 102 male elite soccer players (mean age 24.7 ± 5.7 years), participating in the Italian first league, underwent assessments during the first half of the in-season period and were randomly divided into development and validation groups. Bioelectrical resistance (R) and reactance (Xc), representing the bioimpedance components, were measured using a foot-to-hand BIA device at a single frequency of 50 kHz. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was employed to acquire reference data for FFM, lean soft tissue (LST), and appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST). The validation of the newly developed predictive equations was conducted through regression analysis, Bland-Altman tests, and the area under the curves (AUC) of regression receiver operating characteristic (RROC) curves. RESULTS Developed models were: FFM = - 7.729 + (body mass × 0.686) + (stature2/R × 0.227) + (Xc × 0.086) + (age × 0.058), R2 = 0.97, Standard error of estimation (SEE) = 1.0 kg; LST = - 8.929 + (body mass × 0.635) + (stature2/R × 0.244) + (Xc × 0.093) + (age × 0.048), R2 = 0.96, SEE = 0.9 kg; ALST = - 24.068 + (body mass × 0.347) + (stature2/R × 0.308) + (Xc × 0.152), R2 = 0.88, SEE = 1.4 kg. Train-test validation, performed on the validation group, revealed that generalized formulas for athletes underestimated all the predicted FFM components (p < 0.01), while the new predictive models showed no mean bias (p > 0.05), with R2 values ranging from 0.83 to 0.91, and no trend (p > 0.05). The AUC scores of the RROC curves indicated an accuracy of 0.92, 0.92, and 0.74 for FFM, LST, and ALST, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The utilization of generalized predictive equations leads to an underestimation of FFM and ALST in elite soccer players. The newly developed soccer-specific formulas enable valid estimations of body composition while preserving the portability of a field-based method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Campa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Tindaro Bongiovanni
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Performance, Palermo Football Club, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessio Rossi
- Computer Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy and National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Information Science and Technologies (ISTI), Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Cerullo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Casolo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy.
| | - Giulia Martera
- Department of Performance Nutrition, Spezia Calcio, La Spezia, Italy
| | - Athos Trecroci
- Department of Biomedical Science for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Tatiana Moro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Antonio Paoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
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Levi Micheli M, Cannataro R, Gulisano M, Mascherini G. Proposal of a New Parameter for Evaluating Muscle Mass in Footballers through Bioimpedance Analysis. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081182. [PMID: 36009809 PMCID: PMC9405331 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The evaluation of muscle mass in athletes correlates with sports performance directly. Bioimpedance vector analysis is a growing method of assessing body composition in athletes because it is independent of predictive formulas containing variables such as body weight, ethnicity, age, and sex. The study aims to propose a new parameter (Levi’s Muscle Index, LMI) that evaluates muscle mass through raw bioelectrical data. A total of 664 male footballers underwent bioimpedance assessment during the regular season. LMI was correlated with body cell mass (BCM) and phase angle (PA) to establish efficacy. The footballers were 24.5 ± 5.8 years old, 180.7 ± 5.9 cm tall and weighed 76.3 ± 7.1 kg. The relationships were: LMI-BMI: r = 0.908, r2 = 0.824, p < 0.001; LMI-PA: r = 0.704, r2 = 0.495, p = 0.009 and PA-BCM: r = 0.491, r2 = 0.241, p < 0.001. The results obtained confirm that LMI could be considered a new parameter that provides reliable information to evaluate the muscle mass of athletes. Furthermore, the higher LMI-BCM relationship than PA-BCM demonstrates specificity for muscle mass evaluation in athletes regardless of body weight, ethnicity, age, and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Levi Micheli
- Exercise Science Laboratory Applied to Medicine “Mario Marella”, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Roberto Cannataro
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Massimo Gulisano
- Exercise Science Laboratory Applied to Medicine “Mario Marella”, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriele Mascherini
- Exercise Science Laboratory Applied to Medicine “Mario Marella”, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Regional Lean Soft Tissue and Intracellular Water Are Associated with Changes in Lower-Body Neuromuscular Performance: A Pilot Study in Elite Soccer Players. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2022; 12:882-892. [PMID: 35893080 PMCID: PMC9332301 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe12080064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The assessment of body composition over a competitive season provides valuable information that can help sports professionals to evaluate the efficacy of training and nutritional strategies, as well as monitoring athletes’ health status. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of changes in body composition and hydration status with changes in lower-body neuromuscular performance in soccer. Twenty-two male professional soccer players (mean ± SD; age: 26.4 ± 4.8 years; height: 184.3 ± 5.7 cm; body mass: 81.1 ± 6.5 kg; body fat: 11.6 ± 1.5%) took part in the study, for which they were tested at the initial and final stage of the competitive season. Total (whole body) and regional (arms and legs) lean soft tissue (LST) were estimated to obtain the body composition profile. Total body water (TBW) content, including extracellular (ECW) and intracellular (ICW) water, was obtained to monitor players’ hydration status. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height, power, and strength were used to derive players’ lower-body neuromuscular performance. The results showed that changes in legs LST and ICW significantly (p < 0.01) explained (r2 = 0.39) the improvements in CMJ height, power, and strength from the initial to the final stage of the season. Given the high demand imposed on the lower limbs during a soccer season, being more susceptible to change compared to whole-body LST, assessing regional LST and ICW would be more appropriate to provide extended information on players’ readiness.
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Bongiovanni T, Rossi A, Trecroci A, Martera G, Iaia FM, Alberti G, Pasta G, Lacome M. Regional Bioelectrical Phase Angle Is More Informative than Whole-Body Phase Angle for Monitoring Neuromuscular Performance: A Pilot Study in Elite Young Soccer Players. Sports (Basel) 2022; 10:sports10050066. [PMID: 35622475 PMCID: PMC9144460 DOI: 10.3390/sports10050066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between regional and total phase angle (PhA) with lower-body neuromuscular performance in young elite soccer players. Methods: Sixteen elite male soccer players (14.3 ± 1.0 years) participated in this study. Lower (LPhA)- and upper (UPhA)-hemisome PhA together with whole-body PhA (WBPhA) were measured by a bioelectrical-impedance analysis (BIA), while appendicular arm and leg lean soft tissue (ALST and LLST, respectively) were estimated. Urine osmolarity (UOsm) and urine-specific gravity (USG) were also considered. Sprints over 10 m and 20 m and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests were employed to evaluate neuromuscular performance. Results: LPhA (p = 0.003) and UOsm (p = 0.012) explained 62% of the variance in the 10 m sprint. UOsm (p = 0.001) and both LPhA (p < 0.001) and WBPhA (p = 0.024) explained 81% of the total variance in the 20 m sprint. The CMJ height was affected by LPhA (p < 0.001) and UOsm (p = 0.024), which overall explained 68% of its variance (p < 0.05), while 93% of the CMJ power variance was explained by LPhA (p < 0.001), ALST (p < 0.001), and WBPhA (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Regional PhA is a relevant and non-invasive tool to monitor lower-body neuromuscular performance in elite youth soccer. Specifically, LPhA may be favored over WBPhA as more informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tindaro Bongiovanni
- Performance and Analytics Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43121 Parma, Italy; (T.B.); (M.L.)
| | - Alessio Rossi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Athos Trecroci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milano, Italy; (F.M.I.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giulia Martera
- Nutrition Department, Spezia Calcio, 19121 La Spezia, Italy;
| | - F. Marcello Iaia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milano, Italy; (F.M.I.); (G.A.)
| | - Giampietro Alberti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20129 Milano, Italy; (F.M.I.); (G.A.)
| | - Giulio Pasta
- Medical Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43121 Parma, Italy;
| | - Mathieu Lacome
- Performance and Analytics Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43121 Parma, Italy; (T.B.); (M.L.)
- Laboratory Sport, French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Expertise and Performance (EA 7370), 75012 Paris, France
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Campa F, Bongiovanni T, Trecroci A, Rossi A, Greco G, Pasta G, Coratella G. Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Body Composition and Bioelectrical Phase Angle in Serie A Soccer Players: A Comparison of Two Consecutive Seasons. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111175. [PMID: 34827168 PMCID: PMC8614814 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary In 2020, the first Italian soccer league (Serie A) was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, a detraining process was triggered in soccer players, leading coaches and sports scientists to implement alternative training strategies to prevent a remodeling in body composition. This study tested the hypothesis that male elite soccer players, when confined to their home during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, will display unfavorable trends in bioelectrical and body composition parameters. The results of the present study showed that reduction in phase angle and muscle mass occurred in soccer players during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown. Recognizing these adverse effects of a detraining period is critical in avoiding adverse effects on body composition in soccer players. In addition, the bioelectrical phase angle has been identified as a valid predictor of muscle mass changes during the competitive soccer season. Considerably, the phase angle represents a parameter that can be measured directly through bioelectrical impedance analysis, and it is independent of predictive equations such as those that quantify muscle mass. Abstract The present study compared changes in body composition during the COVID-19-associated lockdown with the same period of the following season in elite soccer players. Fifteen elite male soccer players (30.5 ± 3.6 years.) underwent a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) before (end of February) and after (end of May) the lockdown, which occurred during the 2019/2020 season, and at the same period during the following competitive season in 2020/2021, when restrictions were lifted. Fat and muscle mass were estimated using predictive equations, while phase angle (PhA) and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) patterns were directly measured. After lockdown, fat mass remained unchanged (p > 0.05), while muscle mass (95%CI = −1.12/−0.64; ES = −2.04) and PhA (95%CI = 0.51/−0.24, ES = −1.56) decreased. A rightward displacement of the BIVA vector was also found (p < 0.001, ES = 1.50). After the same period during the regular season, FM% and muscle mass did not change (p > 0.05), while the PhA increased (95%CI = 0.01/0.22; ES = 0.63). A leftward vector displacement (p < 0.001, ES = 1.05) was also observed. The changes in muscle mass correlated with changes in PhA (“lockdown” season 2019/2020: ß = −1.128, p = 0.011; “regular” season 2020/21: ß = 1.963, p = 0.011). In conclusion, coaches and strength conditioners should monitor muscle mass in soccer players during detraining periods as this parameter appears to be mainly affected by changes in training plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Campa
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Tindaro Bongiovanni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Study of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (T.B.); (A.T.); (G.C.)
- Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, Parma Calcio 1913, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Athos Trecroci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Study of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (T.B.); (A.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Alessio Rossi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Gianpiero Greco
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Study of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giulio Pasta
- Medical Department, Parma Calcio 1913, 43100 Parma, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Coratella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Study of Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (T.B.); (A.T.); (G.C.)
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