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Differences in Fat-Free Mass and Muscle Thicknesses at Various Sites According to Performance Level Among Judo Athletes

2006; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Volume: 20; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1519/r-17054.1

1533-4287

Junjiro Kubo, Takeharu Chishaki, Natsumi Nakamura, Tadashi Muramatsu, Yousuke Yamamoto, Masamitsu Ito, Hitoshi Saitou, Takeshi Kukidome,

Sports Performance and Training

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in fat-free mass and thicknesses of various muscles among judo athletes of different performance levels. The subjects were 69 male judo athletes of 3 different performance levels. Group A was composed of athletes who participated in the Olympic Games or Asian Games (n = 13). Groups B (n = 21) and C (n = 35) were composed of judo athletes at a university who did or did not participate in intercollegiate competitions (including qualifying matches), respectively. Muscle and fat thicknesses were measured by B-mode ultrasound at 9 sites. Fat percentage was calculated from fat thicknesses using a previously reported equation. Fat-free mass was calculated from fat percentage and body weight. Muscles thicknesses were normalized to the height of the individual. Group A had significantly larger fat-free mass than Group C (p < 0.05). The normalized thicknesses of the elbow extensor and flexor muscles were significantly larger in Group A than in Group C. The normalized thickness of the elbow flexor muscle was significantly larger in Group A than in Group B. The results of this study showed that judo athletes with low performance levels such as those in Group C had lower fat-free mass, and the degree of development of the brachialis muscles differed according to performance level.