Yearly Changes in the Body Composition and Muscular Strength of High School Wrestlers

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of this investigation was to determine the yearly changes in body composition as well as absolute and relative isokinetic forearm flexion and extension strength of high school wrestlers. Evaluations of body composition (underwater weighing) were performed on 27 high school wrestlers prior to three consecutive seasons. In addition, isokinetic forearm flexion and extension strength values at 180°/s (Cybex II) were available for 20 of the subjects. The mean ages at the times of laboratory testing were 15.5 (± .5), 16.5 (± .5), and 17.5 (± .5) years. Repeated measures ANOVA or ANCOVA with Tukey post-hoc comparisons were used to locate significant (p<.05) differences across age for height, body weight, relative fat, body density, fat weight, fat-free weight, absolute muscular strength, and muscular strength covaried for body weight and fat-free weight. There were yearly increases in all variables except fat weight, forearm flexion covaried for fat-free weight and forearm extension covaried...