Physiological Fitness Characteristics Of Young Female Advanced-level Baton Twirlers

Abstract

Baton twirling is becoming an increasingly popular sport for girls at the youth level, both as an individual and team athletic activity. To date, though, no scientific data exists regarding the physiological fitness profile of regular participants in the sport. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic fitness characteristics, and body fat percentage of young female advanced-level baton twirlers. METHODS Twenty-four participants (age: 15.8 ± 2.5 years; mean ± standard deviation) including 12 baton twirlers (T) recruited from a select baton twirling camp, and an age-matched comparison group of 12 female advanced-level dancers (D) from local dance schools served as subjects for this study. Each participant completed a graded maximal exercise test (standard Bruce protocol) to assess maximal aerobic power (VO2max), a standard 30-sec. Wingate leg cycle test to assess peak and mean anaerobic power, and a body fat assessment using the skinfold technique. RESULTS t-tests revealed significant group differences for body height (T: 163.9 ± 5.1 cm; D: 157.7 3 ± 3.9 cm) and VO2max (T: 43.2 ± 7.2 ml/kg/min, D: 39.4 ml/kg ± 3.4 ml/kg/min) (p<0.05). On the other hand, no significant group differences were noted for body weight (T: 54.7 ± 5.1 kg; D: 53.0 ± 6.3 kg), estimated body fat (T: 24.3 ± 6.5 %; D: 23.9 ± 3.3%), peak anaerobic power (T: 7.3 ± 1.3 W/kg; D: 7.3 ± 1.5 W/kg), and mean anaerobic power (T: 5.5 ± 1.0 W/kg; D: 5.3 ± 0.8 W/kg) (p>0.05). CONCLUSION The present data suggests that relative to age-matched advanced-level dancers, young female baton twirlers exhibit a higher aerobic power and are taller on average. Overall, the observed data suggests that body fat and weight were very similar to elite female youth in other sports. On the other hand, the observed aerobic and anaerobic levels did not reach the level of other groups of elite female youth athletes. Additional studies are warranted to help establish a more comprehensive profile of participants in this increasingly popular sport activity.