A New Strategy to Integrate Heath-Carter Somatotype Assessment with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Elite Soccer Player.

Francesco Campa,Stefania Toselli,Alessio Rossi,Catarina N Matias,Athos Trecroci,F Marcello Iaia,Federico Genovesi,Giulio Pasta,Tindaro Bongiovanni,Giampietro Alberti

doi:10.3390/sports8110142

Abstract

Easy-to-apply and quick methods for evaluate body composition are often preferred when assessing soccer teams. This study aimed to develop new equations for the somatotype quantification that would reduce the anthropometric measurements required by the Heath and Carter method, integrating the somatotype assessment to the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). One hundred and seventy-six male elite soccer players (age 26.9 ± 4.5 years), registered in the Italian first division (Serie A), underwent anthropometric measurements and BIA. Endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy were obtained according to the Heath and Carter method, while fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) estimated using a BIA-derived equation specific for athletes. The participants were randomly split into development (n = 117) and validation groups (n = 59, 1/3 of sample). The developed models including resistance2/stature, FM%, FFM, contracted arm and calf circumference, triceps, and supraspinal skinfolds had high predictive ability for endomorphy (R2 = 0.83, Standard Error of Estimate (SEE) = 0.16) mesomorphy (R2 = 0.80, SEE = 0.36), and ectomorphy (endomorphy (R2 = 0.87, SEE = 0.22). Cross validation revealed R2 of 0.80, 0.84, 0.87 for endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy, respectively. The proposed strategy allows the integration of somatotype assessment to BIA in soccer players, reducing the number of instruments and measurements required by the Heath and Carter approach.

Highlights

Body composition evaluation is among the most common assessments used on soccer players, given its relationship with physical performance [1]
An exhaustive assessment includes measurement of variables belonging to different levels, such as fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), bone mineral content, intra (ICW), and extra cellular (ECW) fluids, and different anthropometric measurements and index [6]
FM and FFM belong to the molecular level, while the anthropometric and morphological characteristics are included in the fifth interpretative level

Summary

Introduction

Body composition evaluation is among the most common assessments used on soccer players, given its relationship with physical performance [1]. An exhaustive assessment includes measurement of variables belonging to different levels, such as fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), total body water (TBW), bone mineral content, intra (ICW), and extra cellular (ECW) fluids, and different anthropometric measurements and index [6]. FM and FFM belong to the molecular level, while the anthropometric and morphological characteristics are included in the fifth interpretative level (whole-body level). In this regard, endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy represent the three morphological components of the somatotype and their different combinations allows for the classification of the athlete’s body shape in one of thirteen different categories [7]

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion