Anthropometric Models to Predict Appendicular Lean Soft Tissue in Adolescent Athletes

Abstract

Both models accurately predict ALST in young athletes, affording a practical means to quantify this compartment.

Validation of anthropometric models in the estimation of appendicular lean soft tissue in young athletes

“…Skeletal muscular tissue (MT) is essential for athletic performance 1,2 , as it is the most abundant body tissue in non-obese individuals 1,3 . Body composition comprises five levels: I) atomic; II) molecular; III) cellular; IV) tissue; and V) total body 3 ; MT belongs to the fourth level and corresponds to 30 to 33% of the total body mass of young people 4 , while in adults it corresponds to approximately 40% 1 .…”

“…Body composition comprises five levels: I) atomic; II) molecular; III) cellular; IV) tissue; and V) total body 3 ; MT belongs to the fourth level and corresponds to 30 to 33% of the total body mass of young people 4 , while in adults it corresponds to approximately 40% 1 . The use of valid and easily applicable methods to quantify the MT of young athletes is highly relevant to monitoring the effects of athletic training on one's MT structure, determining training loads in different phases and balancing training routines with dietary prescriptions, enabling the preservation of or increase in muscle mass to improve athletic performance 2 . Even though MT represents a large part of one's body structure 4 , measuring it in live individuals is a complex task when compared to other measures, such as fat or bone tissue.…”

“…The study showed that these methods accurately quantify MT at the tissue level (IV). Nonetheless, these methods are costly 2 and difficult to apply, while CT exposes individuals to radiation, which prevents applying it repetitively 7 . A less costly and more accessible alternative method, when compared to the previous ones, is DXA 2 .…”

“…It is considered safer because it involves a minimum of radiation 8 and is thus appropriate to measure the body composition of children and adolescents 9 . Even though DXA only makes measurements at level II 3 , it is possible to isolate body regions for analysis, such as the upper limbs, lean mass of the measurement of bone and fat mass called Lean soft tissue (LST) 2 . Appendicular LST (ALST), that is, the sum of the LST of the upper and lower limbs, is equivalent to almost all MT (level IV) in this region, with the exception of a small amount of connective tissues and skin 2 .…”

“…The independent variables were: ALST, body mass, height and interaction between ALST/height, explaining from 98% to 99% of the variability of the reference method's values 4 . Nonetheless, even though DXA is safe and appropriate for the young population, it is still an expensive method and cannot be recurrently used in practice 2 . Anthropometry, on the other hand, is a highly applicable method in the measurement of MT, given its low cost and accuracy, as long as a minimum amount of training is provided 2 .…”