Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Sengeis, M.
Anthropometry and subcutaneous adipose tissue patterning in elite athletes: application of a novel ultrasound method
Doktoratsstudium der Medizinischen Wissenschaft; Humanmedizin; [ Dissertation ] Medical University of Graz; 2021. pp. 127
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Ahammer Helmut
- Holasek Sandra Johanna
- Müller Wolfram
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Introduction: Body mass, relative body weight and fat are important in high-performance sports and especially weight-sensitive sports due to their impact on performance. Elite athletes often use extreme methods to reduce body mass within a few days (e.g., ‘weight cutting’ in combat sports) or try to intentionally or unintentionally maintain low body mass without considering long-term health problems. A novel ultrasound (US) B-mode measurement method for measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thicknesses at eight standardised body sites has recently been introduced. This method enables to measure body fat (in terms of SAT) of elite athletes of various sports with their different physiques on an accuracy level not reached by any other method: SAT mass changes as low as 0.2 kg can be detected reliably. Methods: A total of 272 adult elite athletes (39 % females, and 61 % males) involved in eleven sports from fourteen countries were evaluated. Anthropometric variables, and measures of SAT thicknesses at eight defined body sites were taken. Relative body weight in terms of body mass index (BMI=m/h^2), and mass index (〖MI〗_1=0.53 m/(hs)) were determined (h: stature, s: sitting height, m: body mass). Comparisons of skinfolds (SF) and US results were analysed in elite judokas (N=61). Results: Medians of SAT thickness sums in terms of DI were about three times higher in females compared with males (72.5 mm vs 24.0 mm), whereas the median percentage of embedded fibrous structures in the SAT was lower in females (8.7 %) compared with males (21.1 %), and the fat patterning significantly differed at all eight body sites. The highest ratio between females and males was found at the lateral thigh (LT: 21.4/3.9 = 5.5) in all groups studied. Comparing DI values of female and male athletes of the same sport, the highest ratios of the median DI were found in Kenyan long-distance runners (57.6/8.6 mm = 6.7), followed by badminton players (73.8/21.9 mm = 3.4). Comparisons between SFs and US were analysed in the group elite judokas. Enormous differences of SAT between SFs and US technique were measured between two exemplarily chosen judokas with almost the same SF sum of eight body sites (44.9 mm vs 45.4 mm), whereby the DI differed by a factor of four (20.0 mm vs 5.1 mm). In elite judokas, both measures for relative body weight, in terms of BMI and MI1, were not correlated with DI. In the females’ weight categories WC 48 or less to 70 kg or less (on the day of the official weigh-in before the competition), no significant correlation between the weight category and DI were detected (rs = 0.107, p = 0.769). Both measures for relative body weight (BMI and MI1) were within a narrow range in long-distance runners (females: BMI 16.8 - 19.5, MI1: 17.3 - 20.7; males: BMI 16.1 - 20.7, MI1: 17.6 - 22.0 kg m-2, respectively). However, SAT thickness sums DI strongly deviated in this group of athletes (females: 20-82 mm; males: 3-36 mm). Nineteen males out of 25 had DI values below 15 mm. The recently standardised US method for measuring SAT thicknesses is applicable in field or lab settings and is cabable of detecting both SAT thicknesses with the embedded fibrous structures (fasciae) included or excluded on the high level of sensitivity necessary for monitoring the body composition of elite athlets. In the group of elite judokas, SF and US measurements were compared: the correlation results were poor. The relative body weights (BMI and MI1) were within a narrow range in both Kenyan female and male long-distance runners, but variations in DI were large. The standardised US method enables measurements of SAT with high accuracy and reliability and thus to determine the impact of body composition on performance with the high sensitivity necessary in elite athletes. For the field of sports medicine, accurate measurements of body composition are essential for raising the alarm when low weight and body composition disturbances appear.