BIA analysis in sports anthropometry: segmental analysis in elite karate athletes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the active components of the body composition in Macedonian karate athletes with bioelectrical impedance body analyzer. The sample was composed of twenty two (22) male karate athletes with the following characteristics (mean  SD): age=21.5  3.45 years; height= 178 cm  5.42; weight= 76.8  6.12 kg. Method: The analysis of the body components was made by the bioelectrical impedance analyzer (InBody 720). Results: Segmental analysis obtained by BIA measurement showed lean mass distribution in five body segments. The mean value of soft lean mass (SLM) was 63.91  7.32 kg. It was distributed as follows: right arm vs. left arm was 3.91 kg vs. 3.9 kg; right leg vs. left leg was 11.01  1.25 vs. 10.47  1.19 and trunk was 28.43  6.86 kg. Conclusions: Karate athletes check up their body composition continuously, especially before competitive events. The segmental distribution of the lean body mass is important for karatekas. Our results showed the mean values of lower limbs showed insignificantly higher values for right leg and the mean values of right and left arm were slightly different