ORIGINAL ARTICLES  BODY COMPOSITION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2015 July-August;55(7-8):742-8

Copyright © 2015 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Anthropometric and somatotype characteristics of world class male roller skaters by discipline

Vila H. ¹, Abraldes J. A. ², Rodríguez N. ³, Ferragut C. ⁴ ✉

¹ Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, C/ Campus A Xunqueira s/n, Pontevedra, Spain; ² Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia, Spain; ³ Department of Physical and Activity and Sport Science, Catholic University of San Antonio, Guadalupe; ⁴ Physical Education and Sport Area, Faculty of Medicine University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

AIM: The aim of this study was twofold: 1) to describe the anthropometric profile and somatotype of the elite male roller skaters; and: 2) to assess if there are any differences in these items by roller skating discipline (figures, freestyle, pair and dance).
METHODS: Eighty-eight male skater participants in the 51st Figure Roller Skating World Championship were selected for the study. The International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol was used to determine the anthropometric profile of the figure skaters. Additionally, Body Mass Index (BMI), sum of four and six skinfolds and somatotype were also analysed.
RESULTS: No significant differences were found for the sum of four and six skinfolds among disciplines. Significant differences were found for flexed arm (P≤0.05), forearm (P≤0.05) and wrist girths (P≤0.001) between artistic roller figure and pair skaters. Significant differences were found in waist girth (P≤0.05), flexed arm, forearm and wrist girths (P≤0.001) between artistic roller freestyle and pairs skaters. No differences were found in lower limbs girths among disciplines. Significant differences were found in humerus (P<0.05) and bistyloid (P<0.05) breadth among disciplines. The general somatotype is endo-mesomorphic for roller freestyle and figure skaters. In pair skaters the somatotype is ecto-mesomorphic, and for dance skaters it is balanced mesomorphic.