Seasonal Changes of Body Mass, Body Composition, and Muscular Performance in Collegiate Wrestlers
in International Journal of Sports Physiology and PerformanceClick name to view affiliation
Purpose:
The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the physiological response of collegiate wrestlers to their competitive season.
Methods:
Eleven Division I collegiate wrestlers (mean ± SD; 19.45 ± 1.13 y) volunteered and completed 4 testing sessions throughout the course of the collegiate wrestling season. Testing sessions were conducted pre-, mid-, and postseason, as well as before the national tournament. Testing consisted of weigh-in, skinfold body composition testing, and a 50-rep concentric, isokinetic leg extension muscle endurance test (180°/s). Muscular performance variables measured included peak torque, peak torque at fatigue, percent decline, and peak torque/body mass ratio.
Results:
A significant increase (P < .05) of 2.9% was observed for body mass between midseason and postseason (2.38 kg). From pre- to postseason, a mean increase of 3.8% (3.1 kg) was observed for body mass. An increase (P < .05) in BF% of 2.9% was observed between prenationals and postseason. No significant differences (P > .05) were observed between consecutive time points for quadriceps peak torque; however, there was a significant increase (P < .05) between preseason and prenationals (23.39 N·m). Peak torque at fatigue was greater (P < .05) at midseason than preseason, representing an increase of 9.82 N·m. Between midseason and prenationals testing, we observed an 11% increase (P < .05) in %DCLN. Finally, we noted an increase (P < .05) from 0.6 to 0.69 in peak torque/body mass ratio between preseason and prenationals.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that while force values seem to suffer at midseason, the wrestlers compensated and were strongest just before their national competition.
Buford is with the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Baylor University, Waco, TX, and the Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; Smith, O’Brien, and Warren are with the Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; and Rossi is with the Department of Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, and the Department of Health and Kinesiology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA.
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