Relationships of Body Dimensions to Strength Performance in Novice Adolescent Male Powerlifters

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which structural dimensions are related to strength performance in novice adolescent powerlifters. Ninety-nine high school males were measured for 17 anthropometric dimensions and maximal performance in the bench press and deadlift. Body mass and limb circumferences had the highest relationships with lifting performance. Removing the effect of body mass dramatically reduced the relationships between structural dimensions and lift performances. Multiple regression analysis indicated that size and structural dimensions could account for 68.9% and 62.4% of the known variance in the bench press and deadlift, respectively. Body size was the major determinant of weightlifting ability in adolescent male athletes, with structural dimensions playing a lesser role in determining success.