Sports anthropological and somatotypical investigation of male and female Latin dancers

Abstract

The present study examines anthropometric and somatotypical differences of German Latin dancers in Usingen (n=19 women, n=16 men, age span 16–30 years, district and regional league) and gym visitors (30 females, 32 males, age span 16–40 years). Each proband participated voluntarily. Anthropometric data and and somatotypical parameters in this work correspond to international standards.In both sexes the mean body weight and mean the BMI of gym visitors are higher than the corresponding parameters of Latin dancers (Females: Weight (kg) Fitness Sports vs. Latin dance: 61.6 vs. 58.9 kg, BMI: 21.8 vs. 21.1 kg/m²; Males: 77.0 vs. 76.5 kg, 23.7 vs. 23.1 kg/m²).The female (male) dancers are generally in the hypoplastic – leptomorphic (metroplastic – hypoplastic – leptomorphic) region of Conrad’s chessboard graphic.In the somatochart after Parnell the focus of the distribution of the female (male) dancers is the endomorphic (mesomorphic) area.In the somatochart after Heath and Carter a significant accumulation of the female dancers in the endomorphic area is noticeable, at low scattering in comparison to the female gym visitors. For men, both collectives accumulate in the mesomorphic sector with less scattering of the dancers.In conjunction with the also measured higher body fat percentage of the dancers of both sexes compared to the control fitness group here, there is a clear signal to optimize the nutritional status and the body composition of the investigated German Latin dancers in Usingen.On the other hand, the results support the earlier postulate of Kretschmer (1921), who stated that pyknic physique types in dance sport are more common than others somatotypes.