Correlation of the Handgrip Strength and Body Composition Parameters in Young Judokas.

Maximum isometric handgrip strength (MIHS) is a relevant parameter for judo performance and is related to health. Understanding the association between MIHS and MIHS relative (MIHSrel) and the absolute lean mass of the arm (LMarm) and the percentage of body fat (%BF) can provide important information for performance and health. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between MIHS and MIHSrel with the LMarm and the %BF of young judokas (sub-19, 15 males and 14 females). MIHS was measured using a multipurpose digital dynamometer with a load cell for computer. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The correlation between MIHS, MIHSrel with LMarm and %BF was verified through Pearson's correlation, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Correlation between MIHSrel and %BF was very high only in female judokas for both arms (right, r = -0.76; left, r = -0.75). Correlations between LMarm and MIHS of the right and left arms ranged from very high to almost perfect for both sexes (r = 0.74 to 0.94). These results highlight the importance of strengthening the arms in young judokas, and controlling body fat for performance and health, especially in female judokas.

Relationship Between Heart Rate, Oxygen Consumption, and Energy Expenditure in Futsal.

The primary aim of this study was to compare the measured oxygen consumption (Measured-VO2) in a simulated futsal game (S-Game) with the estimated oxygen consumption (Estimated-VO2) through a regression equation between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) (HR-VO2) in treadmill running, and a secondary aim was to calculate the total energy expenditure (EE) in S-Game. Ten professional players (22.20 ± 3.22 years) were evaluated. HR-VO2 was determined individually in the continuous test on the treadmill (ContTest). The Measured-VO2 in S-Game was compared with the Estimated-VO2 in the ContTest. Alactic and lactic pathways were estimated by VO2. The Estimated-VO2 presented no statistically significant difference with the Measured-VO2, using the paired t-test (p = 0.38). However, the correlation between Estimated- and Measured-VO2 was very weak (r = -0.05), and it presented poor agreement (concordance correlation coefficient = -0.04). In addition, a Bland-Altman plot presented bias of -2.8 ml/kg/min and individual difference as large as 19 ml/kg/min. The HR-VO2 determined by the ContTest was not a good individual predictor of VO2. The high intensity and intermittent nature of the futsal game possibly caused dissociation in the HR-VO2 relationship. ContTest is not recommended for estimating VO2 and calculating individual EE in the futsal game. This is recommended only for the group mean. The total EE in S-Game was 13.10 ± 1.25 kcal.min-1 (10.81 ± 1.57 metabolic equivalents). The contributions from the metabolic pathways were as follows: aerobic (93%), alactic (5%), and lactic (2%).