Anthropometric and Fitness Profile of Senior Basketball Players/Perfil Antropometrico y Condicion Fisica de Jugadores Veteranos de Basquetbol

• Published in: International journal of morphology 2015-03, Vol.33 (1), p.285
• Main Authors: Valdes-Badilla, Pablo Antonio, Godoy-Cumillaf, Andres Esteban Roberto, Herrera-Valenzuela, Tomas Nicolas, Ramirez-Campillo, Rodrigo
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Sports associations
• ISSN: 0717-9367

The demographic and social changes are causing a gradual increase in people over 60 years worldwide, situation thar is similar in Chile, so the study of variables related to this group of the population becomes important. In this regard, the aim of this study is to determine the anthropometric and physical fitness profile of senior basketball players (SBP). This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative research. The sample included 30 SBP (age 66.7 [+ or -] 6.8 years) belonging to the league of the Senior Basketball Association of the Araucania Region, Chile. The dependent variables studied correspond to body composition, somatotype and fitness (strength, endurance, flexibility, agility and dynamic balance). Results indicate that the SBP showed endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic values of 4.1, 6.1 and 1.0, respectively, as meso-endomorphs with a muscle mass of 45% and body fat of 24.5%. Compared to age and sex counterparts, SBP exhibit equal (40% of SBP) or even higher (40% of SBP) values for physical fitness perfomance variables. In conclusion, SBP have a favorable anthropometric and physical fitness profile for their age and sex, suggesting that the systematic practice of basketball would have a positive impact on body composition and physical fitness-function in older adults, however more experimental research is needed to corroborate this. KEY WORDS: Body composition; Somatotype; Fitness; Elderly; Basketball. Los cambios demograficos y sociales estan produciendo un incremento progresivo de las personas de mas de 60 anos a nivel mundial, situacion que no es distinta en Chile, por lo que estudiar variables relacionadas con este grupo de la poblacion se vuelve importante. En este sentido, la presente investigacion tiene por objetivo conocer el perfil antropometrico y condicion fisica de jugadores veteranos de basquetbol (JVB). El tipo de investigacion contempla un diseno descriptivo, transversal, con un enfoque cuantitativo. La muestra seleccionada incluyo a 30 JVB (edad 66,7 [+ or -] 6,8 anos) pertenecientes a la liga de la Asociacion de Basquetbol Senior de la Region de la Araucania, Chile. Las variables dependientes estudiadas corresponden a la composicion corporal, somatotipo y condicion fisica (fuerza, resistencia aerobica, flexibilidad, agilidad y equilibrio dinamico). Los resultados indican que los JVB mostraron un componente endomorfico, mesomorfico y ectomorfico de 4,1, 6,1 y 1,0, respectivamente, clasificandolos como meso-endomorfos