ANTHROPOMETRIC, SOMATOTYPE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS PROFILE OF THAI ACADEMY ROAD RACE MOTORCYCLISTS
Keywords:
Academy, Motorcyclist, Anthropometric, SomatotypeAbstract
The aim of this study was to profile the anthropometrical and functional characteristics of Thai academy road-race motorcyclists. A total of 12 academy motorcyclists (aged 13-18 yrs) and an aged-matched reference group of high school students were recruited to take part in this study. Anthropometric measures including standing stature, body mass, body mass index (BMI), triceps, subscapular and suprailliac skinfold thickness, and somatotype were recorded. Functional indices of muscle strength (handgrip), muscle endurance, (push-up and partial curl-up), muscle power (countermovement jump; CMJ), flexibility (sit-and-reach-test), and aerobic capacity were also measured. In addition, isokinetic peak torque was measured at angular velocities of 60 and 120 deg/sec to assess lumbar, shoulder and wrist strength, respectively. The academy motorcyclists had markedly greater lumbar and wrist peak torque in flexion and extension movements at both 60 and 120 deg/sec compared with the reference group (P<0.05). Left shoulder peak torque was also greater at 60 deg/sec-1 in the academy group in both abduction and adduction movements (P<0.05) and at 120 deg/sec-1 for left shoulder abduction (P=0.017). Functional measures indicated that the academy riders possessed greater partial curl-up (P<0.001) and press-up (P<0.001) muscular endurance and had a higher CMJ (P<0.001). Anthropometric measures showed no between-group differences for height, body mass or BMI (all P>0.05), however academy riders had lower skinfold measures at all measurement sites (P<0.05). Somatotype (balanced) was similar between groups (P=0.068), however greater endomorphy was noted in the reference group (P=0.020). Conclusion: The data can provide a useful reference for the long-term athletic development of academy-aged motorcyclists, or may be used for talent identification purposes.
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