2017, Volume 9, Issue 2
Comparison of various physical and body composition profiles between Indian elite male and female gymnasts
Tamoghni Manna1, Arush Goswami1, Subhra Chatterjee (Nee Karmakar)1, Meenu Dhingra2, Swapan K. Dey1
1Human Performance Laboratory, Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhas Eastern Center, Salt Lake City, Kolkata
2JLN Stadium, Sports Authority of India HO, Delhi
Author for correspondence: Swapan K. Dey; Human Performance Laboratory, Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhas Eastern Center, Salt Lake City, Kolkata; email: drsk_dey[at]rediffmail.com
Full text
Abstract
The present study aimed to compare various physical and body composition profiles of
Indian male and female gymnasts and also to compare the above parameters with their
international/national peers.
The study was conducted on15 male (age = 19.2 ±3.75 years) and 16 female Indian
gymnasts (age = 16.4 ±2.99 years). Various physical and body composition parameters
were measured using standard methods.
The female gymnasts were found to have a higher amount of fat mass and volumes of
extracellular water than their male and international peers while the males had a higher
amount of fat free mass than females but less than their international peers. Also male
gymnasts had a higher amount of body cell mass (BCM) and muscle mass (MM) than
females and their international peers. The hand grip strengths, trunk flexibility, relative
back strength and electrolytes were also found to be greater in male gymnasts. Significant
positive correlations were observed in BCM and MM with calcium, potassium, glycogen and
mineral content in both male and female gymnasts.
These profiles of gymnasts may be used as a tool for evaluation & assessment and a future comparison for the improvement in performance.
Key words: elite gymnasts, Biological Impedance Analyser, body composition, body cell mass, trunk flexibility, back strength, hand grip strength