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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 28748

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Prof. Dr. José Ramón Alvero Cruz

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Chief Guest Editor

Department of Human Physiology, Histology, Patologic Anatomy and Physical-Sports Education, University of Malaga, Edificio López de Peñalver, Campus de Teatinos, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Interests: anthropometry; sports performance; health; BIA

Prof. Dr. Fernando Alacid

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Guest Editor

Department of Education, Health Research Centre, University of Almería, 04120 La Cañada, Almería, Spain
Interests: growth; anthropometry; maturation

Prof. Lorena Correas Gómez

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Guest Editor

Department of Didactics of Languages, Arts and Sports, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Malaga, Bulevar Louis Pasteur 25, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Interests: anthropometry; body composition; children & adolescents; growth & maturation; health; performance; predictive models

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, we are organizing a Special Issue on “The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition”. IJERPH is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes manuscripts in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph.

Kinanthropometry is defined as the study of human size, body shape, body proportion, body composition, maturation, and gross function, in order to understand growth, exercise, performance, and nutrition.

This Special Issue is dedicated to covering the areas related to sports and exercise sciences and therapy and health professionals. We are interested in research and review work carried out with people of different levels of physical condition from untrained to highly trained individuals. Different methodological and theoretical approaches are also supported. This Special Issue is open to the topic of “Kinanthropometry: The Link between Anthropometry and Function”. The keywords listed below provide an outline of some of the possible areas of interest.

Prof. José Ramón Alvero Cruz
Prof. Fernando Alacid
Prof. Lorena Correas Gómez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

kinanthropometry
anthropometry
bioelectrical impedance analysis
sports performance, nutrition
health
growth
maturation
physical fitness
body composition
proportionality

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16 pages, 1882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Male Cyclist Population in Four Asia Countries for Anthropometric Measurements

by Arunachalam Muthiah and Yu-Chi Lee

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610078 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2766

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the anthropometric variables of male cyclist samples from India, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. The cyclist’s body dimensions were measured among 413 randomly chosen males (aged between 18 to 60), which included 104 Indians, 106 Taiwanese, 100 Singaporeans, and 103 Chinese. Based on the previous research articles, the considered 17 anthropometric variables were weight, stature, BMI, buttock extension, shoulder height (sitting), shoulder-elbow length, elbow height (sitting), lower leg length, knee height, acromion-grip length, hand length, elbow-hand length, buttock-popliteal length, buttock-knee length, elbow-to-elbow breadth, hip breadth (sitting), and foot breadth. Using statistical techniques (descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis H test), the data were analysed in SPSS, version 25.0. The results of the statistical analyses showed significant differences among the cyclists across selected anthropometric characteristics, except for the weight and sitting-related anthropometric measurements. The outcome of the descriptive statistics (percentile values), such as the percentile range (5th to 95th percentile), could be applied to the seat-height adjustment system to cover 95% of the bicyclist population. These types of implantation could enhance the ergonomic benefits for the bicyclist. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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19 pages, 1907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Elite Adolescent Ice Hockey Players: Analyzing Associations between Anthropometry, Fitness, and On-Ice Performance

by Gaëtan Martini, Jean-François Brunelle, Vincent Lalande and Jean Lemoyne

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8952; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158952 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2829

Abstract

In the field of ice hockey, body mass and height have always played a role in team selection. This study aims to analyze the associations between anthropometry and multiple dimensions of performance among elite adolescent ice hockey players. Methods: 187 adolescent players (males: n = 80, 13.81 years; females: n = 107, 14.96 years) took part in the study, in Camp 1. Off-ice fitness and on-ice skating tests were performed. Camp 2 consists of on-ice tests and match performance with players selected by coaching staff at Camp 1. Camp 2 data came from official matches performance and a combination of skating tests and intrasquad matches. Hockey Quebec’s selection process consists of going from an entire pool of athletes to a team of twenty-five players, through several camps spread over two years. Correlation analyses were conducted to verify associations between anthropometric measures and performances. Results: In Camp 1, heavier-taller male athletes displayed better performances in most off-ice fitness tests, while heavier female athletes tended to display poorer performance. Camp 2 showed no significant correlations in on-ice tests and match performance. However, some tendencies were observed: heavier male players were less involved in blocked shots, and taller females were more agile. Conclusions: Despite off-ice advantages, the taller-heavier prototype does not translate directly to better performance on the ice among elite adolescent players. Coaches should analyze anthropometric characteristics with caution, and place more focus on match-specific abilities to identify talent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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9 pages, 361 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Anthropometric Measures and Anxiety Perception in Soccer Players

by Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, Marcelo Peñaranda-Moraga, Manuel Vicente-Martínez, Miguel Martínez-Moreno, Bernardo J. Cuestas-Calero, Jorge Soler-Durá, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda and Antonio Jesús Muñoz-Villena

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8898; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19158898 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2103

Abstract

In the sports context, it has been corroborated that the physical demands of presenting an “ideal” body configuration have been associated with different psychological variables, such as self-esteem, anxiety and personality dimensions, such as perfectionism. Specifically, there is evidence that anthropometric measures may be closely related to psychological indicators. A total of 33 male soccer players (18.12 ± 1.24 years) participated in the investigation. Anthropometric assessments were carried out following the ISAK standards for the restricted profile. All of them completed the Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory (CTAI-2D) in its Spanish version. The percent fat was calculated using Withers (density) and Siri equations. The ∑7 skinfolds were used to calculate this. After statistical analysis, significant mean differences were observed in the somatic anxiety dimension (valence) and a medium–large effect size. Regarding correlations, the significantly negative relationship between self-confidence (intentionality) and somatic anxiety (valence) was noteworthy. The relationship between psychological variables and anthropometric measurements was corroborated, showing the need for interdisciplinary work between psychologists and nutritionists who do not ignore the physical health and psychological well-being of the soccer player. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

13 pages, 1036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of App-Based Intervention to Improve Health Status of Sedentary Middle-Aged Males and Females

by María Martínez-Olcina, Bernardo José Cuestas-Calero, Laura Miralles-Amorós, Manuel Vicente-Martínez and Javier Sánchez-Sánchez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 5857; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105857 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1802

Abstract

Background: Adherence to a nutritional program and physical activity are the fundamental aspects of treatment for weight loss and associated problems. Previous research has shown that self-monitoring using a mobile device improves self-management. Methods: A total of 35 subjects (40.6 ± 9.24 years) participated in the study. During the control period (3 months), they received physical exercise guidelines and a personalized nutritional program, with the aim of promoting health status. In the experimental period (3 months), there was also a connection between the physical world (health care processes) and the digital world (app). All participants had their body composition and cardiovascular variables measured. They also underwent calcaneal densitometry to determine bone quality. Descriptive statistics, correlations and analysis of variance were performed (by a researcher who was not involved in the data collection) to study the changes between before and after interventions, as well as to make a comparison between treatments. Results: The use of an app, in which there exist a prediction of the evolution, messages of results and advice, among others, mediated by the assistance of dietitians/nutritionists and sports scientists, had a positive impact on the improvement of health parameters, showing significant differences in all variables except troponin. Conclusions: The combination of healthy habits with the use of the app provided benefits, improving health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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9 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Resistance Training in Muscle Mass and Markers of Muscle Damage in Adults with Down Syndrome

by Antonio J. Diaz, Ignacio Rosety, Francisco J. Ordonez, Francisco Brenes, Natalia Garcia-Gomez, Cristina Castejon-Riber, Manuel Rosety-Rodriguez, Marco Bernardi, Jose Ramon Alvero-Cruz and Miguel A. Rosety

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 8996; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18178996 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3429

Abstract

Recent studies have emphasized that regular exercise should be encouraged as a key part of care and support for people with Down syndrome (DS). However, muscle hypotonia has traditionally been considered a major barrier to resistance training (RT) in people with DS. The main objective of this study was to analyze the impact of circuit RT on markers of muscle damage. The secondary objective was to assess the influence of a RT program on body composition and work task performance. Thirty-six men with DS were recruited and randomly assigned to perform a circuit RT program with six stations 3 days/week for 12 weeks (n = 18) or to a control group (n = 18). Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Serum markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase) were determined at baseline and at the end of training weeks 1, 6, and 12. Work task performance was assessed using the weighted pail-carry test. RT did not induce significant changes in markers of muscle damage during the intervention. Furthermore, muscle mass and work task performance were significantly improved in the exercise group. These findings suggest that circuit RT can be used safely to increase muscle mass and work task performance in young adults with DS. Muscle hypotonia should not be considered a major barrier to exercise in people with DS, provided that qualified staff design and supervise all training sessions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

12 pages, 374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Importance of Biological Maturation and Years of Practice in Kayaking Performance

by Rui António Fernandes, Daniel López-Plaza, Lorena Correas-Gómez, Beatriz Branquinho Gomes and Fernando Alacid

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8322; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168322 - 6 Aug 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2965

Abstract

Previous canoe sprint studies evaluated the best paddlers of their categories. This investigation aimed to identify the importance of biological maturation and athletes’ experience in kayaking performance and observe possible differences regarding anthropometry, years of practice, and performance. Eighty under 14 years of age (U14) and fifty under 16 years of age (U16) kayakers aged 13.40 ± 0.54 and 15.25 ± 0.61 years were evaluated. Kayakers were assessed for anthropometry (body mass (kg); stretch stature (cm); and sitting height (cm)), performance (time at 3000 m for U14 and 5000 m for U16 kayakers), and somatic maturation (predicted adult height (PAH) and maturity offset). In the U14 kayakers, years of practice, sitting height, and maturity offset showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the Top10 and Middle, and Middle and Bottom10 performance times. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) sitting heights were identified between the Top10 and Middle U16 kayakers. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for maturity offset and PAH% between the Top10 and Middle groups compared to the Bottom10 group. In conclusion, this research shows differences in the maturity status of young U14 and U16 kayakers, identifying that the more biologically mature individuals, with more years of specific practice, achieved better performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

10 pages, 1694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Anthropometric Characteristics on Ice Swimming Performance—The IISA Ice Mile and Ice Km

by Beat Knechtle, Ram Barkai, Lee Hill, Pantelis T. Nikolaidis, Thomas Rosemann and Caio Victor Sousa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6766; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18136766 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2417

Abstract

Ice swimming following the rules of IISA (International Ice Swimming Association) is a recent sports discipline starting in 2009. Since then, hundreds of athletes have completed an Ice Mile or an Ice Km in water colder than 5 °C. This study aimed to expand our knowledge about swimmers completing an Ice Mile or an Ice Km regarding the influence of anthropometric characteristics (i.e., body mass, body height, and body mass index, BMI) on performance. We analyzed data from 957 swimmers in the Ice Km (590 men and 367 women) and 585 swimmers in the Ice Mile (334 men and 251 women). No differences were found for anthropometric characteristics between swimmers completing an Ice Mile and an Ice Km although water temperatures and wind chill were lower in the Ice Km than in the Ice Mile. Men were faster than women in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Swimming speed decreased significantly with increasing age, body mass, and BMI in both women and men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Body height was positively correlated to swimming speed in women in the Ice Km. Air temperature was significantly and negatively related to swimming speed in the Ice Km but not in the Ice Mile. Water temperature was not associated with swimming speed in men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km but significantly and negatively in women in Ice Km. In summary, swimmers intending to complete an Ice Mile or an Ice Km do not need to have a high body mass and/or a high BMI to swim these distances fast. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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10 pages, 1373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis: A Valuable Tool to Monitor Daily Body Hydration Dynamics at Altitude

by Ivo B. Regli, Rachel Turner, Simon Woyke, Simon Rauch, Hermann Brugger and Hannes Gatterer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5455; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105455 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2600

Abstract

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a method used to estimate variation in body hydration. We assessed the potential of BIVA for monitoring daily body hydration fluctuations in nine healthy, normally active males under matching normoxic (NX) and hypobaric hypoxic (HH) experimental conditions. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate whether changes in BIVA may correspond with the development of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Subjects were exposed in a hypobaric chamber to both NX (corresponding to an altitude of 262 m) and HH conditions corresponding to an altitude of 3500 m during two four-day sojourns within which food, water intake and physical activity were controlled. Bioimpedance and body weight measurements were performed three times a day and medical symptoms were assessed every morning using the Lake Louise score (LLS). Total body water (TBW) was also assessed on the last day of both sojourns using the deuterium dilution technique. We detected circadian changes in vector length, indicating circadian body water variations that did not differ between NX and HH conditions (ANOVA effects: time: p = 0.018, eta² = 0.149; interaction: p = 0.214, eta² = 0.083; condition: p = 0.920, eta² = 0.001). Even though none of the subjects developed AMS, four subjects showed clinical symptoms according to the LLS during the first 24 hours of HH conditions. These subjects showed a pronounced (Cohen’s d: 1.09), yet not statistically significant (p = 0.206) decrease in phase angle 6 hours after exposure, which may indicate fluid shift from the intracellular to the extracellular compartment. At the end of each sojourn, vector length correlated with deuterium dilution TBW “gold standard” measurements (linear regression: NX: p = 0.002 and r² = 0.756, HH: p < 0.001 and r² = 0.84). BIVA can be considered a valuable method for monitoring body hydration changes at altitude. Whether such changes are related to the development of clinical symptoms associated with AMS, as indicated in the present investigation, must be confirmed in future studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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12 pages, 1589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Physical Profile of a Collegiate Water Skier

by Michael A. Woodgate, Joshua J. Gann, William Hey and Hyun Chul Jung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(3), 1150; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031150 - 28 Jan 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2200

Abstract

This study aimed to examine morphological and physical fitness profile in collegiate water skiers and to identify the potential morphological and physical fitness factors, important for success in the slalom, trick, and jump events. Twenty collegiate water skiers were subject to anthropometric, somatotype measurements and a battery of physical tests inclusive of water ski-specific fitness variables. An independent t-test was used to compare the gender differences of dependent variables. Partial correlation and linear regression analyses were used to identify the factors that are associated with water ski performance. Male water skiers were lower in endomorphic component and better in power, speed, and cardiorespiratory fitness than female water skiers (p < 0.05). Somatotype such as mesomorphic (r = −0.48) and ectomorphic components (r = −0.60), sum of hand-grip strength (r = 0.98), and muscular endurance including posterior extension (r = 0.59) and left lateral flexion (r = 0.63) were significantly correlated with water skiing performance score (p < 0.05). The results of regression analyses showed that mesomorphic component (r² = 0.24, p = 0.04), sum of hand-grip strength (r² = 0.95, p = 0.001), and muscular endurance (r² = 0.30, p = 0.03), appear to be crucial factors associated with water ski performance in slalom, trick (hands pass), and the jump events, respectively. Our study suggests that different morphological and fitness components are required to succeed in each tournament water skiing event. Coaches and athletes can utilize the battery of physical tests and design a specialized training regimen for each tournament water skiing event. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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10 pages, 391 KiB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

Development and Validation of Waist Girth-Based Equations to Evaluate Body Composition in Colombian Adults: Rationale and STROBE–Nut-Based Protocol of the F20 Project

by Diego A. Bonilla, Leidy T. Duque-Zuluaga, Laura P. Muñoz-Urrego, Yurany Moreno, Jorge M. Vélez-Gutiérrez, Katherine Franco-Hoyos, Alejandra Agudelo-Martínez, Gustavo Humeres, Richard B. Kreider and Jorge L. Petro

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10690; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710690 - 27 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2587

Abstract

Waist girth (WG) represents a quick, simple, and inexpensive tool that correlates with excess of fat mass in humans; however, this measurement does not provide information on body composition. The evaluation of body composition is one of the main components in the assessment of nutritional status. Indeed, the use of anthropometry-based equations to estimate body fat and fat-free mass is a frequent strategy. Considering the lack of validation in the Colombian population, the aim of this research study (the F20 Project) is to externally validate WG-based equations (e.g., relative fat mass), and also to develop and validate new models that include WG to estimate body composition in Colombian adults compared to DXA. This cross-sectional study will be carried out following the guidelines for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology–Nutritional Epidemiology (STROBE–nut). Using stratified probabilistic sampling, the study population will be adults with different levels of physical activity residing in Medellín and its metropolitan area. The results of this study will not only validate the estimation performance of the current WG-based equations, but they will also develop new equations to estimate body composition in the Colombian population. This will improve professional practice in health, exercise, and sports sciences (ClinicalTrials.gov ID #NCT05450588). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Anthropometry in Sport Performance, Health and Nutrition)

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