ORIGINAL ARTICLES  BODY COMPOSITION, NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTATION 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2013 December;53(6):620-7

Copyright © 2013 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Rapid weight loss alters muscular performance and perceived exertion as well as postural control in elite wrestlers

Jlid M. C. ¹, Maffulli N. ², Elloumi M. ^{1, 3}, Moalla W. ³, Paillard T. ⁴ ✉

¹ Analysis and Evaluation of the Performance Determinance, ISSEP Ksar Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia; ² Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Mile End Hospital, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK; ³ Laboratory of Cardiocirculatory, Respiratory and Hormonal Adaptation to the Muscle Exercise, Sousse Univerity, Sousse, Tunisia; ⁴ Laboratry of Physical Activity, Performance and Health, STAPS Departement, Pau et Pays de l’Adour University, ZA Bastillac Sud, Tarbes, France

Aim: The aim was to assess the effects of rapid decline of body mass on postural control, muscular performance and rating perceived exertion in elite free style wrestlers.
Methods: Ten high-level wrestlers (age: 19.3±2.5 years, height: 175.7±4.9 cm, body mass before dieting: 77.16±11.94 kg) are included in the present study. Diet was monitored for all the athletes. Athropometric measurements and a variety of functional tests such as isometric hand grip strength (IHG) and isometric back strength (IBS) with dynamometers, dynamic postural control (DPC) with star excursion balance test, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to a standard exercise of knee pushups, were performed before and after diet completion.
Results: The diet was based on food restriction and dehydration. Body mass, lean body mass and body water significantly decreased (P<0.001; P<0.004, P<0.001 respectively). There was no significant decrease in fat mass (P<0.061). Furthermore, IHG and IBS significantly decreased (P<0.001). DPC significantly altered with the left supporting leg in two positions of the right leg (posteromedial, P<0.038; posterior, P<0.012). At last, RPE significantly increased (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Previous studies showed that the rapid decline of body mass affects health and muscular and energetic performance while the present study highlights that it also alters perceived exertion and dynamic postural control.