RESUMO
RESUMEN: El perfil antropométrico y el somatotipo son herramientas imprescindibles para monitorizar el rendimiento morfológico del atleta de alto rendimiento. El objetivo del presente estudio es la descripción del perfil antropométrico y el somatotipo dominante de atletas mexicanos de taekwondo (TKD) de alto rendimiento. El perfil antropométrico y el somatotipo fueron determinados en 16 atletas de TKD mexicanos [8 hombres, edad media 21,5 años (19,8-23,0, IC 95%); 8 mujeres, edad media 21,9 años (19,2-24,4, IC 95%)]. Una prueba T-Student para muestras independiente fue usada para comparar las medias entre ambos sexos (Hombres vs Mujeres). La estatura (P = 0,001), los pliegues del muslo anterior (p = 0,006) y pantorrilla (p = 0,049), la circunferencia del brazo flexionado (p = 0,047), los diámetros del húmero (p = 0,011) y fémur (p = 0,012), el área total y área muscular del brazo (p = 0,001) fueron significativamente diferentes entre hombres y mujeres. Un somatotipo ecto-mesomórfico predomino tanto en hombres (2,1-3,2-4,2) como en el grupal (2,4-3,1-3,8), pero ectomorfo-mesomórfico (2,8-3,2-3,4) para las mujeres. El somatotipo del atleta de TKD mexicano predominó por una mayor linearidad relativa seguido de una magnitud musculoesquelética y una menor adiposidad relativa. Los hallazgos de este estudio aportan evidencias morfológicas para monitorizar el rendimiento físico y nutricional del atleta de TKD.
SUMMARY: Body composition, somatotype and nutritional status are essential tools for monitoring the perfor- mance of high-performance athlete. The objective of the present study was to verify the body composition, the dominant somatotype and nutritional status of high-performance taekwondo athletes of the Mexican TKD team. The anthropometric profile, somatotype and nutritional status were determined in sixteen Mexican TKD athletes [8 men, mean age 21.5 yrs. (19.8-23.0 95% CI); 8 women, mean age 21.9 yrs. (19.2-24.4 95% CI)]. An independent-samples t-test was used to compare the means between both genders (Men vs. Women). The height (p = 0.001), the anterior thigh (p = 0.006) and calf (p = 0.049) folds, the flexed arm circumference (p = 0.047), the humerus (p = 0.011) and femur (p = 0.012) diameters, the fat free mass (p = 0.020) and arm total area (p = 0.049) and arm muscle area (p = 0.001) were significantly different between men and women. The percentage of body fat and arm fat area were not significant between both genders. A normal caloric reserve, but a slightly high percentage of body fat was observed for both genders. In addition, normal and high protein reserves were identified for men and women, respectively. An ecto-mesomorphic somatotype was highlighted in both men (2.1-3.2-4.2) and in the group (2.4-3.1-3.8), but ectomorphic- mesomorphic (2.8-3.2-3.4) to women. The somatotype of the Mexican TKD athlete predominated by a greater relative linearity followed by a musculoskeletal magnitude and a lower relative adiposity. The findings of this study provide morphological evidence to monitor the physical and nutritional performance of the high-performance TKD athlete.