Kinanthropometry and Anatomical Body Composition of Elite Soccer Players in Argentina: The FUTREF Project

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometric references for sports enable researchers and sports nutrition professionals to accurately assess body composition in an economical and efficient manner. The objective of this study was to provide an extensive anthropometric profile of elite soccer players divided by playing position. Seven hundred fifty-two players (age 24.0 ± 4.4 years) from 18 different Argentine teams were involved in the FUTREF project and measured according to the protocol defined by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Methods: Raw anthropometric parameters were reported and used to calculate somatotype and body mass components according to molecular (two-components) and anatomical (five-components) models. Results: Statistically significant differences (p>0.01) were identified for anthropometric parameters among different playing positions and between players selected and not selected for the senior national team. The 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles for the muscle-to-bone ratio were provided. Furthermore, the use of different equations showed different outputs in predicting body composition. Conclusion: This study provides anthropometric reference data for evaluating body composition in elite soccer players.