The relationship between body composition and anaerobic performance of elite young wrestlers

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between body composition and anaerobic performance in young elite wrestlers. Method: Eight female (age = 16.2 +/- 1.1 yrs) and 8 male (age = 17.3 +/- 0.9 yrs) wrestlers from the Turkish cadet and junior national team participated in this study. Fat free mass (FFM) and percent fat mass (%FM) were carried out through electric bioimpedance. Anaerobic performance was assessed by the Wingate test (load was calculated as 0.090 kg x.kg(-1) body mass). FFM was greater in male wrestlers [65.4 +/- 12.3 (kg)] than female wrestlers (45.1 +/- 4.6 (kg) p < 0.01). %FM was lower in male wrestlers (9.7 +/- 6.3) than female wrestlers (18.5 +/- 2.8; p < 0.01). Peak power was significantly higher in male wrestlers than female wrestlers (8.5 +/- 1.0 W center dot kg(-1) vs. 6.8 +/- 0.6 W center dot kg(-1); p < 0.01). Mean power was significantly correlated with FFM in both genders (r = 0.73 p < 0.05 in female; r= 0.90 p < 0.05 in male). No relationship was obtained between anaerobic parameters and %FM. In conclusion, our result demonstrated no association between anaerobic parameters and %FM. Wrestlers and their coaches should take into account FFM rather than %FM for higher anaerobic performance.