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JOURNAL
OF
SPORTS SCIENCE &
MEDICINE
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Research
article
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MUSCLE FIBRE TYPE COMPOSITION AND BODY COMPOSITION IN HAMMER THROWERS |
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Gerasimos Terzis1  ,
Konstantinos Spengos2, Stavros Kavouras3, Panagiota
Manta3 and Giorgos Georgiadis1 |
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1Athletics Laboratory, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Athens, Greece, 2Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece, 3Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Harokopion University of Athens, Greece |
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© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2010) 9, 104 - 109 |
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| ABSTRACT | |||
| Aim of the present study was to describe the muscle fibre type
composition and body composition of well-trained hammer throwers. Six experienced
hammer throwers underwent the following measurements: one repetition maximum
in squat, snatch, and clean, standing broad jump, backward overhead shot
throw and the hammer throw. Dual x-ray absorptiometry was used for body
composition analysis. Fibre type composition and cross sectional area was
determined in muscle biopsy samples of the right vastus lateralis. Eight
physical education students served as a control group. One repetition maximum
in squat, snatch and clean for the hammer throwers was 245 ± 21, 132 ± 13
and 165 ± 12kg, respectively. Lean body mass was higher in hammer throwers
(85.9 ± 3. 9kg vs. 62.7 ± 5.1kg (p < 0.01). The percentage area of type
II muscle fibres was 66.1 ± 4% in hammer throwers and 51 ± 8% in the control
group (p < 0.05). Hammer throwers had significantly larger type IIA fibres
(7703 ± 1171 vs. 5676 ± 1270μm2, p < 0.01). Hammer throwing
performance correlated significantly with lean body mass (r = 0.81, p <
0.05). These data indicate that hammer throwers have larger lean body mass
and larger muscular areas occupied by type II fibres, compared with relatively
untrained subjects. Moreover, it seems that the enlarged muscle mass of
the hammer throwers contributes significantly to the hammer throwing performance. Key words: Track and field, athletic throws, lean body mass. |
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