GENDER COMPARISONS FOR BODY COMPOSITION AND PEAK TORQUE IN AGE-GROUP SWIMMERS

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine gender differences in body composition and estimated arm muscle area (AMA) as well as absolute and relative concentric, isokinetic peak torque in young swimmers. METHODS: One hundred twelve (n = 56 females; n = 56 males) age-group swimmers (age ± SD = 11.2 ± 1.8 yr.; range = 7.1 - 13.9 yrs) volunteered to perform maximal isokinetic forearm flexion and extension muscle actions (dominant arm) at 30, 180, and 300 ± s−1 on a calibrated Cybex II dynamometer to determine peak torque (PT). Percent body fat (% fat) and fat-free weight (FFW) were determined from underwater weighing using age-specific conversion constants to estimate % fat from body density. The subjects also underwent anthropometric assessment (arm circumference and triceps skinfold) to estimate AMA. RESULTS: There were no significant (p > 0.0017; Bonferroni corrected alpha) gender (F = females, M = males) differences for age (F = 10.7 ± 1.8 yr; M = 11.7 ± 1.8 yr), body weight (BW, F = 39.9 ± 13.0 kg; M = 36.4 ± 7.5 kg), FFW (F = 34.0 ± 9.5 kg; M = 33.0 ± 6.1 kg), or AMA (F = 20.6 ± 2.8 cm2; M = 19.9 ± 2.2 cm2). The females (13.5 ± 6.3% fat), however, had greater % fat than the males (8.7 ± 5.0% fat). In addition, there were no gender differences in absolute PT (range of mean differences = 1.2 - 4.1 Nm) or PT per unit of BW (0.08–0.18 Nm/kg), or AMA (0.14 - 0.28 Nm/cm2) at any velocity. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated close similarities for young female and male swimmers in forearm flexion and extension torque production capabilities and body composition characteristics. Growth-related gender differences in swimming performance in this age group may be due to factors such as metabolic considerations, body build characteristics, or biomechanical efficiency.