Evaluation of body composition and muscular strength in different sports

Introduction. Body composition measurements and dynamometric parameters are very reliable indicators of performance and progress in the training process. The aim of this study was to assess the body composition and muscle strength and to establish the correlation between these parameters in various sports. Material and Methods. The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Functional Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad. It included 45 male examiners: 15 handball players, 15 football players, and 15 sprinters. The following parameters were measured: body weight, body height, body mass index, skinfold thickness, and dynamometric parameters of calf extensors and forearm flexors. Results. In comparison to football players and sprinters, handball players presented with statistically significantly higher body mass index (p < 0.05). In terms of skinfold thickness, there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between the groups. The values of dynamometric parameters of calf extensors (average value of load of the calf extensors, maximum value of load of the calf extensors, strength of muscle contraction of calf extensors) showed no statistically significant differences between the groups of athletes (p > 0.05). Compared to football and handball players, sprinters had significantly higher values of dynamometric parameters of forearm flexors (average value of load of forearm flexors, maximum value of load of forearm flexors, strength of muscle contraction of forearm flexors). Conclusion. In the group of handball players there was a positive correlation between the percentage of the body fat and muscle power in both examined muscle groups; however, among the football players and sprinters, a correlation was found between the body composition and strength of calf extensors.