Physical Characteristics of College Age Women Gymnasts

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this study was to report physical measurements of college age women gymnasts and compare them to measures previously reported on other samples of college age women and European gymnasts. Height, weight, body density, as well as selected circumferences and skeletal diameters of the gymnasts were compared to data previously reported in the literature by use of the t test. Mean height (158.51 ± 5.04 cm) and weight (51.09 ± 7.08 kg) were significantly less than values reported for college age women, while mean body density (1.064 ± .0101 gm/cc) was significantly higher. Women gymnasts were smaller in skeletal diameters except for measures of the wrist, elbow, and femur. They were also smaller in circumferences, except for measures of the upper arm, forearm, neck, and thorax. There were no significant differences from European gymnasts in height, weight, density, or selected circumferences. It was concluded that these findings suggest a physique that may be characteristic of women gymnasts.