Investigating the Anthropometric Variables and Bio-Motoric Properties in Male and Female Swimmers

Year 2017, Volume: 5 Issue: 4, 274 - 284, 17.12.2017

Bircan Dokumacı Cihan Aygün Demet Demir Doğan Hayriye Çakır Atabek

Abstract

The
purpose of this study was to investigate the anthropometric features, and some
bio-motoric properties in young male and female swimmers. Furthermore, this
study aimed to investigate the relationship between anthropometric and
bio-motoric variables considering the gender differences. Eighteen male and
seventeen female amateur swimmers (mean age = 13.4 ± 2.9 and 12.7 ± 2.2 years
respectively) volunteered to participate in this study. All swimmers were
member of the same team who had trained at least for 3 days in a week. The
anthropometric features were evaluated by height, weight, skinfold thicknesses
(triceps, biceps, pectoral chest,
midaxillary, abdominal, subscapular, midthigh, suprailium, supraspinale, and
calf skinfold thicknesses), breadth, and girth measurements, and body
fat. The bio-motoric variables were limited with flexibility, squat jump (SJ),
counter movement jump (CMJ), and handgrip strength. The results showed that
there was no significant differences between groups for age, height, weight,
skinfold thicknesses and ∑8 skinfolds (p>0.05). However, there was a
significant difference between groups for body fat (p<0.01), humerus and
femur breadth values (p<0.01), and for waist girth values (p<0.05). There
was significant differences between male and female swimmers for investigated
bio-motoric properties. The results showed that the SJ and CMJ values were
significantly related with height, weight, breadth, and girth measurements
(p<0.01) in male swimmers. On the other hand, no such relationship was found
in female swimmers. In
conclusion, present study indicated that there were
significant differences between genders, with favor results for male swimmers.
The determination of anthropometric properties may help the trainers to predict
and follow the swimmers’ performance. 

Keywords

Swimming, amateur athletes, gender, anthropometry, strength

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