Positional Body Composition of Division I Volleyball Players, Consortium of College Athlete Research (C-CAR) Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify normative values for total and regional body composition by position for female NCAA Division I collegiate volleyball players using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). METHODS: Eighty-nine female volleyball players (ages 17-23) from multiple universities received a DXA scan. Athletes were categorized by position: Middle Blocker (MB=30), Outside Hitter (OH=32), Setter (ST=9), and Libero (LB=18). Total fat mass (FM) and lean masses (LM) were measured by DXA, as well as abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and total and regional measures of bone mineral density (BMD). An ANOVA assessed the effect of position on body composition and BMD measurements. Tukey’s HSD post-hoc analysis test identified significance between positions. RESULTS: As expected, height was statistically significant (p<0.01) between all positions: MB (185.8 ± 4.6 cm) > OH (181.7 ± 4.1 cm) > ST (174.7 ± 3.7 cm) > LB (167.8 ± 8.0 cm). Weight was significantly greater in MB and OH (80.1 ± 9.3 kg, 76.6 ± 7.8 kg) compared to LB (64.5 ± 7.6 kg, p<0.001), and MB compared to ST (69.7 ± 5.7 kg, p=0.006). Body percent fat was not statistically significant by position (mean = 25.3%). Total LM was greater in MB and OH (55.7 ± 4.6 kg, 54.1 ± 4.7 kg) compared to LB and ST (45.9 ± 4.9 kg, 48.3 ± 3.2 kg, p<0.01). Total FM was significantly greater in MB than LB (21.0 ± 6.9 kg, 16.1 ± 4.0 kg, p=0.016). VAT mass was not significantly (p>0.05) different between positions. After adjusting for weight, total BMD was significantly greater in MB (1.39 ± 0.1 g/cm3, p<0.001) and OH (1.41 ± 0.09 g/cm3, p=0.002) compared to LB (1.30 ± 0.08 g/cm3), but not ST (1.31 ± 0.07 g/cm3, p>0.05). Leg BMD was higher in MB and OH (1.54 ± 0.11 g/cm3, 1.53 ± 0.11 g/cm3) compared to LB and ST (1.39 ± 0.09 g/cm3, 1.4 ± 0.06 g/cm3, p=0.001-0.008). Spine BMD was higher in MB and OH (1.32 ± 0.15 g/cm3, 1.33 ± 0.12 g/cm3) compared to LB (1.22 ± 0.09 g/cm3, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Total body composition measures vary significantly by position; however, the similarities in percent body fat imply differences may be influenced primarily by height. Future studies should examine the distribution of mass. BMD differences may be influenced by repeated impacts of jumping during the attacking and blocking actions of front row players. These data provide some normative DXA data for collegiate volleyball players.