Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
1) N.I. Vavilov General Genetics Institute RAS, Moscow; 2) Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, RAS, Moscow; 3) Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Prudnikova A.S., e-mail: palesa@yandex.ru; Butovskaya Marina L., Ph.D., D.Sc., prof., ORCID ID: 0000-0002-5528-0519, e-mail: marina.butovskaya@gmail.com; Veselovskaya Elizaveta V., Ph.D., D.Sc., assoc. prof., ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2932-9884, e-mail: veselovskaya.e.v@yandex.ru; Godina E.Z., D.Sc., prof., ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0692-420X, e-mail: egodina11@gmail.com
Introduction: Body fluctuating asymmetry (further FA) in sportsmen, specializing in different sports and with different level of achievements is tested in this study. FA is associated with the disruption of the developmental stability of the body, consequently, FA could be an indicator of physical health and adaptive capacity of the organism. Materials and Methods: Our sample consisted of 212 males and 156 females athletes. The control group was represented by males and females of the same age, who did not have any significant sport achievements (62 males and 75 females). The following morphological traits were used to calculate asymmetry indices (from the left and right sides): the lengths of 2nd and 4th fingers, the length of the ear, the width of the wrist, ankle and foot. In the first part of this study we collected data on athletes trained in different sports, and with different sportive achievements (according to three different classifications): 1) cyclic sports, complex coordination, martial art, game sports; 2) the cyclic, acyclic and combined groups; 3) symmetric, asymmetric and mixed groups. In the first part of the study we compared athletes with different levels of sports achievement. Before calculating the total FA we analyzed the distribution of asymmetry, the presence of directional asymmetry, antisymmetry and size-dependence for each trait. Results and discussion: It was found that FA of sportsmen (as a group in general) was higher compared to control group. In addition, it was demonstrated that the lowest rates of FA within the group of sportsmen were exhibited by athletes, specialized in martial art and cyclic sports. It was also found that athletes with high athletic achievement (CSM, MS and more) have lower rates of FA. This trend was more pronounced in males than in female groups. Conclusions: The increasing rates of FA, which we have noted for athletes, apparently, is the reaction of the morphological structures on the high physical stress connected with professional sports. Group of athletes, specializing in the martial arts and cyclic sports, has the lowest rate in the FA, therefore, individuals, who have chosen these types of sports, possess the highest adaptive capacities of the organism. Besides, the most successful athletes and the control group were the least asymmetrical. Consequently, we may suggest that these individuals are equipped with much stronger inborn adaptive predispositions for coping with environmental stressors.
anthropology, fluctuating asymmetry, adaptation, different sports, athletes, developmental stability
Цит.: Prudnikova A.S., Butovskaya M.L., Veselovskaya E.V., Godina E.Z. The study of fluctuating asymmetry of morphological traits in athletes of different sports // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2011; 4/2011; с. 69-80
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