Aims: in order to evaluate body composition and somatotypes , 10 Italian experienced mountain climbers were assessed from an anthropometric point of view, before a high altitude ascent. Body mass, height, girths, skinfolds and bone breadths were gathered and used to calculate body composition and somatotype of each subject. Results: means and standard deviations of the subjects’ anthropometric characteristics were calculated. Mesomorphism (5.28±1.10) is the dominant somatotype component in all but one the participants , endomorphism (1.55±0.49) is low and body fat percentage (11.76%±2.93) is low. Comparisons with athletes involved in other climbing sub-disciplines highlight the specificity of elite mountain climbers anthropometry. Conclusions: The elite mountain climbers in our sample were predominantly mesomorphic with somatotype attitudinal mean values lower than reported for male athletes participating in free-climbing, volleyball, gymnastics and soccer. Anthropometric characteristics may therefore play a role in mountain climbing, even though the trainable components may be more relevant than the non-trainable ones.
Body Composition and Somatotype of Experienced Mountain Climbers
BARBIERI, Davide;ZACCAGNI, Luciana;COGO, Annaluisa;GUALDI, Emanuela
2012
Abstract
Aims: in order to evaluate body composition and somatotypes , 10 Italian experienced mountain climbers were assessed from an anthropometric point of view, before a high altitude ascent. Body mass, height, girths, skinfolds and bone breadths were gathered and used to calculate body composition and somatotype of each subject. Results: means and standard deviations of the subjects’ anthropometric characteristics were calculated. Mesomorphism (5.28±1.10) is the dominant somatotype component in all but one the participants , endomorphism (1.55±0.49) is low and body fat percentage (11.76%±2.93) is low. Comparisons with athletes involved in other climbing sub-disciplines highlight the specificity of elite mountain climbers anthropometry. Conclusions: The elite mountain climbers in our sample were predominantly mesomorphic with somatotype attitudinal mean values lower than reported for male athletes participating in free-climbing, volleyball, gymnastics and soccer. Anthropometric characteristics may therefore play a role in mountain climbing, even though the trainable components may be more relevant than the non-trainable ones.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
