THE SOMATOTYPE AND ANTHROPOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF WRESTLERS FROM SİVAS, TURKEY

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of the present study is to assessment of the young wrestlers' somatotypes and anthropometric characters in Turkey according to the weight and age category. Basic Procedures: The study is carried out on a sample of 86 male wrestlers aged 10 to 21 years from Sivas. Various anthropometric measurements were performed (weight, height, sitting height, biceps and calf circumferences, humerus and femur width and triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and calf skinfolds thickness), anthropometric indices were calculated (upper arm muscle area, upper arm fat area, arm fat index, frame index and cormic index), and Heath-Carter somatotypes were determined. Results: The result of the present study showed that the junior wrestlers (weight=80kg) exhibited more endomorphy and mezomorphy than the schoolboys wrestlers (weight=51.12kg. The wrestlers' mean somatotypes are found to be 2.81 1.05 (endomorphy), 3.71 1.28 (mesomorphy) and 1.76 1.25 (ectomorphy). Conclusion: In conclusion, body structure and composition in the wrestlers were depended on their weight category. The junior wrestlers' characteristic type was endomorphic mesomorph, while the schoolboys wrestlers' type was mesomorph-endomorph. The wrestlers' endomorphy and indices of body composition can also be observed a considerable difference according to weight category. In addition, muscle area was found to be rising, however, fat area was decreasing.