Hierarchical differences in body composition of professional Sumo wrestlers

The body composition of 36 professional Sumo wrestlers and 39 collegiate male students were assessed densitometrically. The means of body weight, BMI and %fat for Sumo wrestlers were 117.1 kg, 36.5 and 26.2%, extraordinarily large compared with untrained men (p < 0.001). Results of the analysis of variance of divisions of Sumo wrestlers revealed significant differences in body weight, fat-free mass, fat mass, BMI, fat-free mass index (FFM/height2) and fat mass index (FM/height2). For the visual expression of the hierarchical differences of body composition, fat mass index and fat-free mass index of the wrestlers in various leagues were plotted on a body composition chart. Wrestlers in the Sekitori division had significantly larger fat-free mass index scores in comparison with wrestlers from the lower divisions who share a common area of the chart. The cut-off point of fat-free mass index which divided Sekitori wrestlers from other wrestlers is approximately 30 and this value may be one of the anthropometrical indications of whether or not a Sumo wrestler is destined to be successful.     

广西汉族和壮族大学生肺活量与肌肉参数的相关性分析

目的 探讨广西某高校汉族、壮族大学生肺活量与肌肉参数的相关性。方法 随机抽取1909名广西某高校在读大学生,采用MC-180体成分仪测量其肌肉参数,肺活量测试仪测量其肺活量。按《国家学生体质健康标准》进行身高、体重测试。将受试者肺活量分数分为4组：<60分、60～79分、80～89分、≥90分。采用SPSS 23.0统计学软件进行分析。结果 不同肺活量分数段汉族男、女大学生身高、年龄、体重、身体质量指数（BMI）、肌肉参数存在组间差异（均P<0.05）,壮族女大学生身高、体重、BMI、肌肉参数（除左上肢肌肉量）存在组间差异（均P<0.05）;汉族男大学生身高、肌肉参数最大值主要集中在≥90分组,呈上升趋势,汉族、壮族女大学生身高、体重、BMI、肌肉参数在<60分、60～79分、80～89分组上升趋势,在≥90分组各指标略有下降,壮族女大学生左上肢肌肉量组间差异不明显。汉族男、女大学生年龄、身高、体重、BMI、肌肉参数与肺活量成显著正相关（均 r>0,均 P<0.01）;壮族男、女大学生身高、体重、肌肉参数与肺活量成显著正相关（均 r>0,均 P<0.01）,左上肢肌肉量与肺活量相关性不显著（P>0.05）。结论 年龄、身高、体重、BMI、肌肉参数的增加对两民族大学生肺活量的增加有一定正性作用,左上肢肌肉量的变化对壮族大学生肺活量的影响不明显,汉族大学生各肌肉参数与肺活量的相关性强于同性别壮族大学生。     

Maximum aerobic power and physical dimensions of children.

Age, height, mass, fat-free mass and vital capacity were used as predictors of maximum aerobic power (VO2 max). The variables were cast in linear form by logarithmic transfomation and submitted to multiple regression analysis. Results indicate VO2 max as a power function of age, height and mass in 50 untrained boys aged 7 to 13 years. In this group the relationship between VO2 max and body mass may be expressed by the equation Y=0.076X0.88 (r=0.92, P <0.01). Age, height and mass together accounted for 89 per cent of the variance in VO2 max (R=0.94, P <0.01). In 30 girl swimmers and in 14 young boys during 22 months of running training, VO2 max was proportional to body mass and indicated greater maximum aerobic power for their size and age. In normally growing children, VO2 max appears to increase more slowly than body mass. Children subjected to aerobic training evidently maintain VO2 max in proportion to their increasing mass throughout adolescence.     

Upper limit of fat-free mass in humans: A study on Japanese Sumo wrestlers

If limitations exist in skeletal dimensions, fat-free mass (FFM) might have an upper limit. To explore the upper limit to FFM, 37 professional Japanese Sumo wrestlers, 14 highly trained bodybuilders, and 26 untrained men were investigated for body composition (fat mass and FFM) and cross-sectional areas (CSA) of limb muscles, by hydrodensitometry and ultrasound, respectively. Mean % fat of Sumo wrestlers, bodybuilders, and untrained subjects were, respectively, 26.1%, 10.9%, and 12.1%. Sumo wrestlers had a significantly greater FFM than bodybuilders, who had a greater FFM than the untrained men. Six of the wrestlers had more than 100 kg of FFM, including the largest one of 121.3 kg (stature: 186 cm, mass: 181 kg, %fat: 33.0%). The FFM/stature ratio of elite Sumo wrestlers averaged at 0.61 kg/cm, with the highest 0.66 kg/cm. It is suggested that a FFM/stature ratio of 0.7 kg/cm may be an upper limit in humans. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Physiological characteristics of young well-trained swimmers

Summary The purpose of this study was to describe body composition, muscular strength, pulmonary function, and aerobic capacity of young swimmers, after 6 years of training. Twelve male members of a competitive swim team, ranging in age from 13 to 16 years, served as subjects. Each subject was measured on 2 separate days at approximately the same time of day on each occasion. On day one, body composition, muscular strength, TLC, FVC, FEV_1.0, FRC, RV, and resting DL_c0 were determined. On day 2, height, weight, E max Hr max, and O₂ max were measured. Results indicated that children who train to swim competitively: (1) are lower than average in percent body fat (10.8%) as determined by hydrostatic weighing, (2) are muscularly fit as indicated by the Oregon Cable-Tension Strength Test, and (3) have cardiorespiratory capacities which are greater than one would expect to see in untrained youth of similar ages.     

Twitch contractile properties of plantar flexor muscles in power and endurance trained athletes

This study compared twitch contractile properties of plantar flexor muscles among three groups of 12 subjects each: endurance and power trained athletes and untrained subjects. The posterior tibial nerve was stimulated by supramaximal square wave pulses of 1-ms duration. Power trained athletes had higher twitch maximal force, maximal rates of force development and relaxation and also maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force. The trained subjects had a smaller twitch maximal force: MVC force ratio and shorter twitch contraction and half-relaxation times than the untrained subjects with no significant differences between the two groups. Thus, the short time for evoked twitches in the athletes compared to the untrained subjects would seem unrelated to the type of training. It is concluded that power training induces a more evident increase of muscle force-generating capacity and speed of contraction and relaxation than endurance training.     

Mechanical efficiency and force–time curve variation during repetitive jumping in trained and untrained jumpers

Mechanical efficiency (ME), the ratio between work performed and energy expenditure, is a useful criterion in determining the roles of stored elastic energy and chemically deduced energy contributing to concentric performance in stretch-shortening cycle movements. Increased force production during the eccentric phase has been shown to relate to optimal muscle-tendon unit (MTU) length change and thus optimization of usage of stored elastic energy. This phenomenon, as previously reported, is reflected by higher jump heights and ME. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if ME may be different between trained and untrained jumpers and thus be accounted for by variation in force production in the eccentric phase as a reflection of usage of stored elastic energy during various jump types. This investigation involved 9 trained (age 20.7?±?3.2?years, height 178.6?±?5.3?cm, body mass 79.0?±?5.5?kg) and 7 untrained (age 21.43?±?2.37?years, height 176.17?±?10.89?cm, body mass 78.8?±?12.5?kg) male jumpers. Trained subjects were Division I track and field athletes who compete in the horizontal or vertical jumping or running events. Force-time and displacement–time curves were obtained during jumping to determine jump height and to calculate work performed and to observe possible differences in force production in the eccentric phase. Respiratory gases with a metabolic cart were obtained during jumping to calculate energy expenditure. ME was calculated as the ratio between work performed and energy expenditure. The subjects completed four sessions involving 20 repetitions of countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps from 40?cm (DJ40), 60?cm (DJ60) and 80?cm (DJ80). The trained jumpers jumped significantly higher in the CMJ, DJ40, DJ60 and DJ80 conditions than their untrained counterparts (p?≤?0.05). ME was significantly higher in the trained in comparison to the untrained jumpers during DJ40. The amount of negative work during all jump types was significantly greater in the trained jumpers. There was a significant correlation between negative work and ME in the trained jumpers (r?=?0.82) but not in the untrained jumpers (r?=?0.54). The present study indicates that trained jumpers jump higher and have greater ME, possibly as a result of increased for production in the eccentric phase as a reflection of optimal MTU length change and thus increased usage of storage of elastic energy.     

Sensitivity to catecholamines and histamine in the trained and in the untrained human organism and sensitivity changes during digestion

Blood pressure and heart rate responses elicited by norepinephrine, epinephrine and histamine were compared before and after duodenal acidification in 27 trained and untrained young healthy men. Before acidification trained subjects showed a lower sensitivity to norepinephrine and histamine and a slightly lower one to epinephrine. In Order to explain these phenomena physical training was supposed to affect α, respectively β adrenergic responsivity in a dissimilar manner. This suggestion was confirmed by the isoproterenol studies, too. Duodenal acidification decreased the catecholamine-induced pressor responses. Depressor responses to histamine did not change in the untrained subjects, whereas they increased in the trained group. Thus, during digestion the histamine-induced depressor responses of trained subjects tended to approach that of untrained people.     

Prediction of normal values for lactate threshold estimated by gas exchange in men and women

Lactate threshold (LT) is an index of exercise capacity and can be estimated from the gas exchange consequences of a metabolic acidosis (LT_GE). In recent years, it has emerged as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of subjects with exercise limitation. The purpose of this study was to develop LT_GE prediction equations on a relatively large sample of adults and to cross-validate each equation. A total of 204 healthy, sedentary, nonsmoking subjects (103 men and 101 women), aged 20–70 years, underwent graded exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. The V-slope technique was used to detect LT_GE as the oxygen uptake (V˙O₂) at the breakpoint of the carbon dioxide output versus V˙O₂ relationship. Multiple linear regression was used to develop 12 equations with combinations of the following predictor variables: age, height, body mass, and fat-free mass. Eight of the equations are gender-specific and four are generalized with gender as a dummy variable. The equations were cross-validated using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) method. The results demonstrate that the equations had relatively high multiple correlations (0.577–0.863) and low standard errors of the estimate (0.123–0.228 1?·?min^?1). The PRESS method demonstrated that the equations are generalizable, i.e., can be used in future studies without a significant loss of accuracy. Since we tested only healthy, sedentary subjects, our equations can be used to predict the lower limit of normal for a given subject. Using individual data for healthy and diseased subjects from the literature, we found that our gender-specific equations rarely miscategorized subjects unless they were obese and mass was a predictor variable. We conclude that our equations provide accurate predictions of normal values for LT_GE and that they are generalizable to other subject populations.     

Physiological comparisons among three maximal treadmill exercise protocols in trained and untrained individuals

The present investigation was undertaken to examine whether maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and anaerobic threshold (AT) measured during incremental treadmill exercise would be affected by the exercise protocol in trained and untrained individuals. Fifteen untrained men, 10 untrained women, and 12 trained individuals participated in this study. The Astrand, Bruce, and Costill/Fox protocols were selected for comparison. Each subject was tested using all three protocols and the three tests were conducted in a randomized counterbalanced order. During each test, oxygen uptake was measured every 30 s and the test was terminated according to the standard criteria. The VO2max was determined by averaging the two consecutive highest measurements, whereas AT was determined using ventilatory parameters following the V-slope technique. The Astrand, Bruce, and Costill/Fox protocols produced test durations of 9.8 (SEM 0.5), 12.4 (SEM 0.4), and 4.9 (SEM 0.3) min, respectively, in the untrained men, 9.0 (SEM 0.8), 11.0 (SEM 0.6), and 5.3 (SEM 0.6) min, respectively, in the untrained women, and 14.5 (SEM 0.5), 17.0 (SEM 0.5) and 10.4 (SEM 0.4) min, respectively, in the trained men. In the untrained men and women, no differences in VO2max were observed among the three different protocols, but AT was lower when using the Bruce compared to the Astrand protocol. In the trained men, VO2max and AT were lower when using the Bruce protocol than either the Astrand or Costill/Fox protocols. In conclusion, VO2max measured during treadmill exercise is not affected by the protocol of the test and using a running protocol of short duration (i.e. about 5 min) could be a time-efficient way of assessing VO2max in healthy untrained subjects. In trained subjects, however, a protocol consisting of running with small increments in gradient is effective in eliciting a higher VO2max. The lower AT associated with the Bruce protocol seen in both untrained and trained groups suggests this aerobic parameter is protocol dependent and this protocol dependency is not affected by training status.     

Morphofunctional modification in elderly individuals practicing competitive endurance sport

To investigate the modification of body composition and level of aerobic capacity in older athletes practicing competitive sport for two years consecutively, 20 elderly male endurance athletes (A) were compared with twenty elderly male subjects who practiced moderate exercise (C). Body composition analysis, physical activity and maximal aerobic power (VO2max) were measured at the beginning of the study, after twelve months and after twenty-four months in both groups. We observed significant differences in group A: body fat was significantly lower in the subjects at the first and second year than at the beginning of the study; fat-free mass (FFM) was significantly higher in the subjects at the first and second year; VO2max in every measurements was significantly higher in the subjects at the at the first and second year than at beginning of the study. Our data suggest that it is possible, even in the elderly, to reach a good level of physical fitness with appropriate training protocols for competitive sport.     

Physical exercise improves the functional capacity and quality of life in patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on the functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients. METHODS: Forty-two patients of both sexes with heart failure of NYHA class II and III with different etiologies were randomly divided into untrained or trained groups. The six-month exercise program consisted of aerobic training, muscle strength training, agility and joint flexibility activities. Physical fitness was evaluated by testing the performance on these trained components. Quality of life was evaluated by scored answers to a standardized questionnaire involving multiple domains. RESULTS: Baseline values did not differ between groups. Improvement in the trained group was identified in all components of functional capacity when compared to the untrained group (p<0.001). Quality of life improved in the trained patients concerning physical, psychological, social and environmental domains (p<0.001), whereas no significant change was found in the untrained patients. CONCLUSIONS: Guided and monitored physical exercise is safe and has the potential to improve functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients with multiple etiologies.     

D-Lactate concentrations in blood,urine and sweat before and after exercise

Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the concentrations of D-lactate, L-lactate, pyruvate and methylglyoxal (MG) in body fluids after exercise. Eight untrained male students and five male students who were boat club members engaged in the exercise. Each subject performed runs of short and long duration. Compared to pre-exercise values plasma concentrations of D-lactate, L-lactate and pyruvate increased after running; in trained men by 3.6, 5.0, 3.4 times after short runs and by 1.5, 4.6, 2.0 times after long runs, and in untrained men by 3.0, 12.0, 1.6 times after short runs and 2.5, 5.6, 1.6 times after long runs, respectively. In all cases, the increase of L-lactate was always higher than that of D-lactate after running. The MG contents in red blood cells decreased markedly after running, especially in the untrained students. After short runs the MG concentration had decreased to 13% in the untrained men and 30% in the trained men, and after long runs the concentration had decreased to 41% in the untrained and 60% in the trained men. The MG in plasma and red blood cells appeared to have been utilized during relatively anaerobic exercise, especially by the untrained subjects. The D-lactate and related substances were also determined in urine, but the concentration of these substances showed no relationship to exercise. The D-lactate concentration in sweat samples tripled after short periods of running but the relative concentration to sodium ion concentration was not altered. The L-lactate, pyruvate, and MG concentrations in sweat increased after short duration running but their concentrations relative to sodium ion concentration were decreased significantly.     

Body composition and isokinetic strength of professional Sumo wrestlers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the profiles of body composition and force generation capability in professional Sumo wrestlers. The subjects were 23 professional Sumo wrestlers [mean age 22.0 (SEM 1.2) years] including those ranked in the lower- (Jonokuchi, n?=?10), middle- (Sandanme, n?=?8) and higher-division (Makuuchi, n?=?5), 22 weight-classified athletes [5 judo athletes, 5 wrestlers, and 12 weight lifters, mean age 20.7 (SEM 0.7) years], and 21 untrained men [mean age 20.1 (SEM 0.2) years]. In the Sumo wrestlers, body mass ranged between 77.0 and 150.0?kg, body mass index between 25.9 and 44.5 kg?·?m^?2, relative fat mass (%FM) between 11.9 and 37.0%, and fat-free mass (FFM) between 59.1 and 107.6?kg. The Sumo wrestlers showed significantly higher %FM and smaller elbow and knee extensor cross-sectional areas (CSA) than the weight-classified athletes who weighed from 90.4?kg to 133.2?kg. Moreover, isokinetic forces in the flexion and extension of elbow and knee joints, respectively, at three constant velocities of 1.05, 3.14 and 5.24 rad?·?s^?1 were significantly lower in the Sumo wrestlers than in the weight-classified athletes and untrained subjects when expressed per unit of body mass. However, the median value of FFM relative to body height in the higher-division Sumo wrestlers was ranked high in the range of magnitude among those reported previously in the literature for heavyweight athletes. Moreover, the results on the comparisons within the Sumo wrestlers showed that not only FFM but also force generation capability, expressed both as an absolute term and as a value relative to both body mass and muscle CSA, might be factors contributing to the performance of Sumo wrestlers.     

Testosterone, aging, and body composition in men from Harare, Zimbabwe.

To examine age-related changes in body composition and testosterone (T) among men in an urban sub-Saharan African population, measures of body composition and salivary T were obtained from 109 males ages 20-78 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Measures included height, weight, suprailiac and triceps skinfold, and percent body fat by bioelectric impedance (BIA). Saliva samples were assayed for T using radioimmunoassay. Average BMI of the overall sample (23.16 (SD = 18.12) kg/m(2) was close to Western populations, while salivary T levels (AM = 196 +/- 96 pmol/l; pm = 172 +/- 98 pmol/l) were much lower. Both morning (beta = -0.535; P < 0.001) and afternoon salivary T declined with age (beta = -0.385; P < 0.001). Multiple regression models indicate that pm salivary T (beta = 0.24; P = 0.025), was a predictor of fat-free mass, but neither am nor pm salivary T was related to fat mass or other measures of body composition. In addition, height was significantly related to pm salivary T levels in men under the age of 60. Multivariate regression indicates that pm salivary T is a predictor of fat-free mass when controlled for height and adiposity. These findings suggest that T is related to both lean mass and overall body size among men from a non-Western nonsubsistence population. As such they are consistent with the hypothesis that bioavailable T plays a role in energetic allocation among human males.     

Activities of key enzymes in the energy metabolism of human myocardial and skeletal muscle

Activities of total creatine kinase (CK), its isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), total lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and its isoenzyme LD1, phosphofructokinase (PFK), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and citrate synthase (CS) were determined in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from physically trained and untrained men and in myocardial biopsies from patients subjected to open heart surgery because of valve disease. The LD1, ASAT and CS activities were higher in trained than in untrained skeletal muscle and still higher in heart muscle than in either trained or untrained skeletal muscle. The CK-MB activity was higher in trained than untrained skeletal muscle and the myocardial CK-MB activity was similar to that in trained skeletal muscle. Total CK activity was slightly lower in trained than in untrained skeletal muscle and the myocardial CK activity was approximately one third of the skeletal muscle CK. Both the PFK and the total LD activity was of similar magnitude in the different muscle types. In conclusion, as estimated by enzyme activities, the oxidative capacity is 2-3 times larger in myocardial than in skeletal muscle, while the glycolytic capacity as estimated by PFK appears to be the same.     

广西多民族大学生肺活量与体成分特征

目的 了解广西多民族大学生肺活量和体成分的基本情况,并探讨两者的相关性。 方法 对自愿参加调查的广西某高校1322名学生进行肺活量及体成分测定,并进行统计学分析。 结果 汉族、壮族及其他少数民族大学生的肺活量、肌肉量、推定骨量、身体水分及蛋白质均存在民族差异（P<0.05）;相关分析中,肺活量与脂肪量成负相关关系（相关系数r=-0.092,P<0.01);肺活量与肌肉量、推定骨量、身体水分及蛋白质含量成正相关关系（相关系数分别为0.687、0.633、0.658及0.653,均P<0.01）。 结论 广西多民族大学生的肺活量及部分体成分存在民族差异,三者中肺活量及部分体成分的比较：汉族＞其他少数民族＞壮族;增加肺活量,则体内脂肪量越低,肌肉量、推定骨量、身体水分及蛋白质含量越高。     

Total haemoglobin mass and spleen contraction: a study on competitive apnea divers,non-diving athletes and untrained control subjects

In diving mammals splenic contraction increases circulating red cell volume, whereas in humans increased haemoglobin concentrations have been reported. It is unknown, however, whether repetitive apnea diving also comprises an adaptive increase in total red cell volume as reported in endurance athletes. The first aim of the study therefore was to investigate the effect of repeated apnea dives on splenic size and putative red cell release in trained apnea divers (n = 10) and control subjects (SCUBA divers performing apneas without long-term apnea training, n = 7). Long-term effects of repetitive apnea diving may elevate the oxygen transport capacity by an adaptive increase in total haemoglobin mass as reported in endurance athletes. The second goal, therefore, was to compare the trained apnea divers’ and the control divers’ total haemoglobin mass (tHb-mass) with that of endurance-trained (n = 9) and untrained (n = 10) non-divers. Before and immediately after a series of five dives to a depth of 4 m in a heated pool, spleen volume was assessed with ultrasound tomography. tHb-mass and plasma volume were measured using the CO-rebreathing method. In the trained apnea divers, repeated apnea dives resulted in a 25% reduction of spleen size (P < 0.001), whereas no significant effect was observed in the control subjects. While tHb-mass did not differ between trained apnea divers, untrained SCUBA divers performing apneas and untrained non-divers, it was 30% lower than in endurance-trained non-divers. We conclude that prolonged apnea training causes marked apnea-induced splenic contraction. In contrast to athletes in endurance sports, the trained apnea divers did not present with increased total haemoglobin mass and, hence, no increase in blood oxygen stores. Nicole Prommer and Ulrich Ehrmann equally contributed to this study.     

Genetic limit of functional adaptability

Summary A pair of monozygous twins, a trained athlete and his identical untrained counterpart, were tested over a period of 1 1/2 years. Monozygosity was established on the basis of morphological traits and serological criteria. Repeated measurements obtained during basal conditions, submaximal and maximal exercise on a cycle ergometer disclosed that: a) the basal heart rate, respiratory rate, minute ventilation, vital capacity and forced expiratory volume were insensitive to training; b) cardiorespiratory displacement during submaximal work was smaller in the trained than in the untrained twin; and c) the maximum muscular force, mechanical power output, aerobic power and anaerobic capacity were about 10, 60, 37 and 60%, respectively, higher in the trained than in the untrained twin. The increase of the maximal aerobic power was attributed equally to an enhancement of the O₂ transport and O₂ utilization systems. It was concluded that although exogenous factors are important, a strong hereditary component sets a limit to functional adaptability.