Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2007):

Anthropometric characteristics evolution in elite rhythmic gymnasts.

Full Abstract

The aims of this research were to assess anthropometric characteristics of high-level senior and junior rhythmic gymnasts; and was to investigate the changes of anthropometric characteristics over a 4 years period, in different senior and junior groups of the same technical level. Twenty anthropometric variables of 63 participants were collected and body composition and sitting-height-to-stature-ratio measures were calculated. The two-way (gymnast category and time) ANOVA of the anthropometric characteristics showed significant main effect of time period for biacromial and bicristal diameters indicating that the majority of variables had similar values in 2002 and 2006. A significant main effect of category (junior or senior) was present in most the analyzed variables with higher values in senior gymnasts than juniors. The significant category by time interaction for height, weight, limbs' length, and fat-free mass, indicated that some differences between junior and senior gymnasts increased over the 4 yr time period. The training hours per week were significantly higher in seniors, but did not differ over the 4 yr period. The study shows that the criteria, followed for the recruitment of elite gymnasts, in the two different periods considered (2002 and 2006) were almost the same. Moreover, higher differences between seniors and juniors of FFM values in 2006 indicated the more intensive training of the second period for seniors.

Author information

Author/s: di Cagno, Alessandra (A); Baldari, Carlo (C); Battaglia, Claudia (C); Guidetti, Laura (L); Piazza, Marina (M);

Affiliation: Unit of Sport Sciences, Department of Health Sciences, University Institute of Movement Sciences (IUSM), Roma, Italy.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Italian journal of anatomy and embryology = Archivio italiano di anatomia ed embriologia (Ital J Anat Embryol), published in Italy. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2008 Jan-Mar; vol 113 (issue 1) : pp 29-35

Dates: Created 2008/05/21; Completed 2008/07/10;

PMID: 18491452, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adipose Tissue - physiology Adolescent Adult Age Factors Aging - physiology Anthropometry - methods Athletic Performance - physiology Body Composition - physiology Body Height - physiology Body Mass Index Body Size - physiology Bone Development - physiology Child Extremities - growth & development

Female Gymnastics - physiology Humans Male Menarche - physiology Motor Skills - physiology Muscle Strength - physiology Muscle, Skeletal - growth & development Physical Fitness - physiology Sex Characteristics Skinfold Thickness Somatotypes Teaching Time Factors

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