Effect of physical activity in young gymnasts

Body composition is influenced by many factors. Especially during the adolescence period, an important role is played by the practice of physical activity, with large variations due to the type, intensity and frequency of the activity. There, the idea aroused to check the influence of a specific pre...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sports science & medicine 2009-12, Vol.8
Main Authors: Santillo, E, Castagna, A, Migale, M, Castagna, S, Ruberto, C, Calzone, A, Cristiano, A, Fedele, P, Di Gregorio, T, Attisani, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Athletes
Body composition
Body mass
Children
Exercise
Medical examinations
Practice
Programs
Statistics
Training (programs)
Youth
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Body composition is influenced by many factors. Especially during the adolescence period, an important role is played by the practice of physical activity, with large variations due to the type, intensity and frequency of the activity. There, the idea aroused to check the influence of a specific preparation program for the gymnasts drafted by the Federal Technical Board on body composition, in a population of young athletes. The programs consisted of 6 hours in 4 training sessions in the first group and 3 hours in 3 training sessions in the second group, for 8 months. The objective was to evaluate the effect of these programs on anthropometric parameters. All the athletes, after the anamnesis, have been subjected to medical examination, and measurement of anthropometric and functional parameters. The verification of body composition has been carried out with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Our population consisted of 93 athletes (21 M, 72 F), 8.44 c 2.68 years old. The results of the study yielded statistically significant correlation between weekly training hours and body weight (r= 0.359; P=0.000), body surface area (r=0.436; P=0.000) and lean body mass (r=0.320; P=0.002). After the creation of multiple linear regression models to highlight the effect, training hours (b=0.204; P=0.000) and years of sports practice (b=0.158; P=0.000) remained as principal predictors of lean mass. The results of the study confirm that estimation of fat tissue with BIA and detection of the studied parameters, are highly related in our population (r=0.846; P=0.000). The percentage of lean mass increases significantly in direct proportion to the intensity and frequency of physical activity carried out. Based on our data, we aim to provide important information regarding the influence of such an intervention on these measures in young gymnasts and to allow improving physical activity in children.
ISSN:1303-2968
1303-2968