RESUMEN
SUMMARY: Hand size is part of the anthropometric parameters that are assessed in swimmers to select elite athletes, as certain anthropometric relationships involving hand measurements are significantly correlated with sports performance in various swimming disciplines. The authors present the results of the anthropometric study carried out on the hands of 15 elite male Italian swimmers from to the Italian national open water swimming team. All swimmers participated at least once in World Cup and Absolute Italian Championships, winning at least one medal in their sporting career. In particular, the sample includes a medallist at the World Championships, a winner of the World Cup ultra swim marathon circuit and medallists at the European Championships. The sample consisted of 15 elite male swimmers with a mean age of 28.93 years. The following anthropometric measurements were taken on each athlete: Stature; weight; seven dimensions on each hand: hand length; hand breadth metacarpal; palm length; middle finger length; index finger length; thumb distance; and the distance from the thumb root to first flexure line of the index finger - trigger length. The size of the hands is an important factor in the swimmer's propulsion and push as a larger hand allows for greater support in the water and consequently generates more resistance. The anthropometric characteristics of the hands of Italian swimmers are missing from the anthropometric data already reported in the literature and can be used to make comparisons with elite athletes from other nations. Furthermore, anthropometric measurements could be used as predictors to estimate the swimmers' chance of success.
El tamaño de la mano es uno de los parámetros antropométricos que se evalúan en los nadadores para seleccionar a los deportistas de élite. Los autores presentan los resultados de un estudio antropométrico realizado en las manos de 15 nadadores italianos masculinos de élite pertenecientes al equipo nacional de natación en aguas abiertas. Todos los nadadores participaron al menos una vez en Copas del Mundo y Campeonatos de Italia, ganando al menos una medalla en su carrera deportiva. En concreto, la muestra incluye un medallista en los Campeonatos del Mundo, un ganador de la Copa del Mundo del circuito de ultra maratón de natación y medallistas en los Campeonatos de Europa. La muestra consta de 15 nadadores masculinos de élite con una edad media de 28,93 años. Se tomaron las siguientes medidas antropométricas a cada atleta: estatura; peso; siete dimensiones en cada mano: longitud de la mano, anchura de la mano en el metacarpiano, longitud de la palma, longitud del primer, segundo y tercer dedo, distancia entre la raíz del primer dedo y la primera línea de flexión del segundo dedo. El tamaño de las manos es un factor importante para la propulsión y el empuje del nadador, ya que una mano más grande permite un mayor apoyo en el agua y, en consecuencia, genera más resistencia. Las características antropométricas de las manos de los nadadores italianos faltan en los datos antropométricos recolectados en la literatura y pueden utilizarse para hacer comparaciones con los atletas de élite de otras naciones. Además, las medidas antropométricas podrían utilizarse como predictores para estimar las posibilidades de éxito de los nadadores.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Adulto , Natación , Antropometría , Mano/anatomía & histología , ItaliaRESUMEN
Background: The energy balance between inputs and outputs is essential to avoid a reduction in performance, recovery difficulties, hormonal problems, an increased risk of fatigue, injuries and illnesses. Aim: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether the energy intake assumed by non-professional sportsmen of the new fitness disciplines on the basis of the guidelines present in the literature, meets the needs required by their sporting activity. Methods: The sample consist of 20 non-competitive adult sportsmen (n.10 females; n.10 males) that were voluntarily enrolled in a gym, belonging to the various fitness disciplines: bodybuilders (n = 2); calisthenics (n = 3); crossfitters (n = 15). The subjects underwent an anamnestic-nutritional interview and used a photographic atlas to estimate the energy intake in the training day (in terms of macronutrients, micronutrients and H2O). Results: The results of the study reported: a lower energy intake, the breakdown of macronutrients was suitable for the nutritional indications reported by bibliographic sources, with the exception for protein intake that was higher than the other macronutrients; a lower intake of fibers, mono/polyunsaturated fatty acids; an higher intake of simple sugars, proteins and H2O, and by a normal parameters of carbohydrates, fats and saturated fatty acids. Conclusions: Generally the study has shown that the sample energy intake is extremely low in the training day. Therefore, it is useful to educate sportsmen, coaches and families in order to avoid deficiencies/excess of calories and nutrients which may not be functional for the sporting activity performed.
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SUMMARY: Anthropometry is essential to understand the predisposition of an athlete to practice a specific sporting activity, to assess their fitness, and in association with functional parameters, to identify any correlations between their anthropometric profile and their sport performance. Here, we present the anthropometric profiles of athletes of the Italian national teams, who represented Italy in the 2019-2020 competitive season in the following sports: artistic (n=4) and rhythmic (n=12) gymnastics; distance swimming (speciality: 100 m freestyle) (n=14); synchronized swimming (n=10); and basketball (n=6). We also consider a group of sedentary women (n=22) for comparisons. The following anthropometric measurements were taken for each woman: stature; anterior trunk height (i.e., suprasternal- symphysion distance); chest circumference passing through the mesosternal point; biacromial diameter (i.e., akromion-akromion distance); wrist circumference; abdominal circumference passing through the omphalion and the lumbale; hip circumference; height of lower limb (i.e., epitrochanter-planta distance). Height was a selective factor in both basketball, which requires tall athletes, and artistic gymnastics, where in contrast, well-muscled athletes of small stature are required. In aquatic sports, the constitutional habitus is characterized by good development of the upper body compared to the lower limbs. The selection of elite athletes takes place primarily through anthropometric analyses, although other functional and psychological factors also influence their sports performance.
RESUMEN: La evaluación antropométrica de un atleta es fundamental para conocer su predisposición en la práctica de un determinado deporte, evaluar su estado de forma y, junto a los parámetros funcionales, identificar posibles relaciones entre el perfil antropométrico y el rendimiento. A continuación, presentamos el perfil antropométrico de las atletas de los Equipos Nacionales que representaron a Italia en la temporada 2019-2020 en las siguientes disciplinas deportivas: gimnasia rítmica (n=12), gimnasia artística (n=4), nado sincronizado (n=10), natación (especialidad: 100 m estilo libre) (n=14), baloncesto (n=6). A cada atleta le fueron efectuadas las siguientes mediciones: altura, altura anterior del torso (distancia supraesternal-symphysion), circunferencia torácica en el punto mesosternal, diámetro biacromial (distancia acromion-acromion), circunferencia de la muñeca, circunferencia abdominal a nivel umbilical, circunferencia pélvica, altura del miembro inferior (distancia epitrocantérea-planta). La altura es el factor selectivo en el baloncesto, que exige atletas altas, así como en la gimnasia artística que, al contrario, requiere atletas no muy altas y con una buena musculatura. En los deportes acuáticos, el rasgo característico es un buen desarrollo de la parte superior del cuerpo respecto a la parte inferior. La selección de los atletas de elite se realiza en primer lugar a través de estudios antropométricos, aunque el rendimiento depende también de otros factores funcionales y psicológicos.
