Body Structure and Composition of Canoeists and Kayakers: Analysis of Junior and Teenage Polish National Canoeing Team

Abstract

The somatic build, biological age, general state of health, mental predisposition and physical fitness are the criteria for selection of individuals in competitive sport. The present study aims to analys the differences in body structure and composition of canoeists and kayakers and derive conclusions regarding the criteria for selection of individuals incompetitive sport. The research was conducted on a group of 32 men aged between 17 and 22: 16 kayakers and 16 Canadian canoeists of the junior and teenage Polish national canoeing team. Body composition was examined by means of bioelectrical segmental impedance. Body build type was determined using the anthropometric Heath-Carter method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Welch t-test. The examination of morphological features reveals significant differences in the studied parameters between the canoeists and kayakers. There are also significant differences between competitors of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the studied group. We found that competitive kayakers should be taller than canoeists. The lower part of the body in kayakers is more developed than in canoeists and canoeists are more dehydrated than kayakers.

Analysis of Somatotype of Top Young Race Walkers by Means of the Heath-Carter Method

“…In sports dominated by strength characteristics we find the mesomorph component, as authors have shown in the case of Polish judokas with a somatotype 3.5-5,9-1,8, which is very representative (Lewandowska, Buśko, Pastuszak, & Boguszewska, 2011). The mesomorph component is related to individual sports which require muscle strength (Stanković, Pavlović, Petković, Raković, & Puletić, 2018;Hagner-Derengowska et al, 2014;Sterkowicz-Przybycień, Sterkowicz, & Żarów, 2011;Mathur, Toriola, & Igbokwe, 1985), and the ectomorph for group sports where precision and skill are required (Carvajal et al, 2012;Malousaris et al, 2008;Mathur et al, 1985).…”

Anthropometric and somatotype differences between C1 paddlers who were and were not selected for the Czech national team

“…Vedat (2012) proceeded in the same inconsistent manner, studying the anthropomorphic parameters of the Turkish national kayak and canoe white-water slalom team and presenting the results for all men's kayak and canoe categories together. These categories, however, differ in the demands they place on athletes' strength, and it is thus not appropriate to combine data from the various categories together (Bílý, 2002), as previous researchers have shown that the anthropometric parameters and somatotype are different between kayakers and canoeists (Hagner-Derengowska et al, 2014). In the study by Bílý, Süss, & Buchtel (2011), the categories were properly separated, but the number of anthropometric parameters tracked was very low and the authors used bioelectrical impedance to measure the athletes.…”

The impact of skinfolds measurement on somatotype determination in Heath-Carter method

“…Furthermore some authors failed to provide information about measurements performed in their studies,[4, 13, 24]. It seems that such errors are generated in papers published in journals with high impact factors,[4–5, 8, 10–11, 13, 20, 22–23, 26–28, 32–33, 39, 51] as well as “less prestigious” ones,[16, 24–25, 34, 36, 38, 44–46, 50].…”

“…The supraspinale skinfold method defines this skinfold as a diagonal fold raised five to seven centimetres above the anterior superior iliac spine on a line to the anterior axillary border and on a diagonal line going downwards and inwards at 45°,[1–2, 37]. Many researchers,[20, 27, 34–35, 38–39] have measured the iliac crest skinfold as a diagonal fold raised immediately above the crest of the ilium on a vertical line from the mid-axilla,[37]. Measured in the same way, the suprailiac skinfold was referred to body fat evaluated by Durnin and Womersley,[40].…”