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5. Secular trend in anthropometric measurements of athletes spe-cializing in speed skating

Secular trend in anthropometric measurements of athletes spe-cializing in speed skating

Bobarykin N.S.

Russian State University of Physical Education, Sports, Youth and Tourism, Russia. Department of anatomy and biological an-thropology, Moscow

Bobarykin N.S., e-mail: bobarykinn@gmail.com

Abstract

In recent decades many authors have recorded secular trend in population of developed countries. Currently there is ex-tremely little investigation on secular trend among professional athletes [Godina, Kolomeychuk, 2012] Investigation of group of speed skaters in order to reveal the availability or absence of secular trend is conducted for the first time. The purpose of work is to consider and detect trends in changing of anthropometric measurements of athletes in the last 40 years. The object of research: anthropometric data of high qualification men athletes specializing in speed skating in Mos-cow and Kolomna in 2011-2013 collected by the author and lit-erary data collected in 1979 by A.A. Gladysheva. Total number of examinees was 120 men of 16 to 25 years of age. Methods. Anthropometric measurements were conducted in conformity with classical methods, accepted in Research insti-tute of Anthropology, Moscow State University [Bunak, 1941]. The Programme included: lengths, breadths and circumferences, diameters, skinfolds, hand grip (dynamometry), weight. BMI, body proportions, frame index, percentage and total amount of body fat and skeletal-muscle mass by J. Matiegka“s formula were calculated [Matiegka, 1921]. The obtained data were proc-essed with statistical programme Statistica 6.0. Conclusion. The results show, that modern athletes express tendency of increase in lengths, elbow breadth, knee breadth, ankle breadth, fat layer (the fat component) and percentage of body fat, frame index, as well as decrease in all body circumfer-ences, diameters, weight, BMI, hand grip strength, and skeletal-muscle mass as compared to athletes, investigated in 1979. This trend, as we consider, is connected with the cardinal change of skates’ model in the middle of the 1990’s and the running techniques [Seiler, 1997]. It possibly demonstrates also the trend to asthenic body build in modern populations.

Keywords

sports anthropology, secular trend, anthropometry, speed skating

Цит.: Bobarykin N.S. Secular trend in anthropometric measurements of athletes spe-cializing in speed skating // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2013; 4/2013; с. 115-120