Sports anthropology investigation on female participants of the German Sports-Aerobic-Masters compared to non-sports participating young females

This investigation is based on the sports anthropology of 50 female participants of the German championships of Sport Aerobics (age range 16-35 years), whose constitutional body build parameters were compared to 50 female physical education students (age range 18-30 years) and 40 women (age range 18-35), who did not engage in sportive activities at all. Somatotyping and other sports anthropological techniques were performed according to Parnell (1958). Heath & Carter (1967), Conrad (1963) and Knussmann (1961a, 1961b) as well as proportion figures and phantom stratagem. In the North-American somatocharts the aerobic athletes were classified as ectomesomorph, whereas the physical education female students were found in the ectoendomorph area according to Parnell and the non-sportive subjects remained on the mesoendomorph part. In the Heath-Carter somatochart, the physical education students and the non-sportive women were registered in the mesoendomorph and ectoendomorph areas. In the German systems the young women were placed in the leptomorph direction and mesoplastic in the Conrad typology. According to Knussmann, all the investigated groups were classified as ultramacrosom and superleptomorph. Some morphological differences can be detected by means of proportion figures and phantom stratagem. The aerobic athletes display a more athletic somatotype with an accentuated radio-ulnar breath. The aerobic group is also characterised by the smallest body fat percentage, whereas the non-exercising group shows the opposite. This is also proven by the body mass index.     

布依族成人Heath-Carter法体型研究

本文运用Heath-Carter人体测量体型方法,研究了贵州省布依族494例(男259例,女235例)成人体型。研究结果表明:(1)布依族男性与女性平均体型均为偏内胚层的中胚层体型,男性均数为3·0—5·3—2·4,女性均数为4·3—4·9—1·9。(2)随年龄增长,布依族男性内因子值变化不大,中因子值增大,外因子值减小。但总的说来,男性体型各年龄组变化不大。(3)随年龄增长,女性内因子值与中因子值增大,外因子值减小。(4)布依族体型介于南方人群和北方人群之间。     

Sports-anthropological analysis of Tunisian elite karateka

This study is based on a careful sport anthropological investigation (ca. 15 min) of 25 Tunisian athletes of the Karate team (aged 18 - 31 years) with special permission of the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports. Considering the height of the Tunisian elite athletes (175.6 +/- 4.9 cm), heavier kareteka are bigger (178.9 +/- 2.2 cm vs. 171.4 +/- 3.9 cm). The mean weight was 73.1 +/- 8.2 kg (heavier athletes 78.7 +/- 5.9 kg vs. lighter athletes 66.0 +/- 4.1 kg). On Conrad's chessboard diagram all the Tunisian karateka were placed in the leptomorph half, only two in the metromorph corridor, but most of them in the middle between hypoplastic and hyperplastic poles. The AKS index diagram demonstrates a faint diagonal positioning of the single weight categories, with progression of body mass from the lower to the upper right area. None of the athletes surpasses a body height of 184 cm. The variation of the AKS index is higher than the variation of body height. The constitutional analysis according to Knussmann (1961) reveals an orientation of heavier weight classes towards macrosomia and pyknomorphism. The proportional figures of the athletes show a small variation of joint heights in lower extremities. In Parnell's somatochart (1954, 1958) the concentration of Tunisian karateka is found in the mesoectomorph third as well as in the somatochart of Heath & Carter (1967). Further sport anthropological karate studies should focus on adolescents and females as well as on physiological and biomechanic parameters.     

Association between physique characteristics and hand skeletal aging status

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between skeletal aging traits (obtained from evaluation of hand radiographs) and physique characteristics, including indices of obesity, skeletal size, muscular development, and the somatotypes of Heath and Carter (1967) and of Deriabin (1985). To achieve our aims, we used multiple regression analysis, and Pearson's and canonical correlation analyses. The studied population comprised 629 males and 561 females aged 18-90 years, all members of the Chuvasha (Russian Federation). The present study provides evidence for a connection between hand bone aging traits and physique characteristics. The cortical index showed a small but significant correlation with adiposity and the index of overall physique, but bone mineral density (BMD) traits were not correlated with the index of overall physique. Deriabin's set of somatotypes was significantly correlated with BMD, but could explain only 2% of its variation. Significant correlations of the hand osteoarthritis trait were observed with indices of adiposity. Also observed were statistically significant canonical correlations with both sets of somatotypes, which enabled us to predict 2-3% of hand osteoarthritis variation by a combination of somatotype components. Osseometric score evinced statistically significant correlations with most indices of physique as well as with a combination of somatotype components. These findings may prove helpful in epidemiological studies, because they show that body composition is the factor that is statistically significantly associated with skeletal aging.     

Comparison of somatotype differences of soccer and handball players based on the methods of German and Anglo-American schools of constitutional biology

39 soccer players of the third division as well as 22 handball players of the second division and 17 handball fourth division players (average age 24 years) were examined kinanthropometrically. The sports anthropological evaluations were made according to the methods of Parnell (1958), Heath & Carter (1967), Conrad (1963), Knussmann (1961a, 1961b) as well as Tittel & Wutscherk (1972). Regarding the proportionality, proportion figures and phantom stratagem were used. In the typology of Conrad (1963) above all the high hyperplasia values of the handball players stand out. According to the typognosis of Knussmann (1961a, 1961b) the handball and soccer players are to be classified as leptomorph. The tendency to the macrosomia pole is to be recognized for the handball players. In the somatochart of Parnell (1958) soccer and handball players are placed in the mesomorph ectomorph sixth. The group differences are highly significant for the endomorphy. In the somatogramm of Heath & Carter (1967) both ballplayer collectives are settled in the ectomorph mesomorph area. The group differences are here for the endomorphy and mesomorphy highly significant, for the ectomorphy significant. The proportional fat portion (calipermetry) is high-significantly lower for the soccer players with 6.6 +/- 1.6% than for the handball players (8.4 +/- 2.5%). All height and longitudinal dimensions as well as the circumferences with exception of the thigh girth were for the larger handball players (body height: 189.1 +/- 7.9 cm) very to highly significantly higher than for the smaller soccer players (body height: 178.6 +/- 5.8 cm), whereby no important proportional differences were registered.     

Sex- and age-related variations of the somatotype in a Chuvasha population.

The aim of this large, cross-sectional study was to describe the age- and sex-related variations of the somatotype, employing Heath and Carter's method, in a Chuvasha population residing in a rural region in central Russia. The investigated sample included 802 males aged 18-89 years (mean 46.9) and 738 females aged 18-90 years (mean 48.6). We evaluated the age and sex differences by one-way ANOVA with somatotype components as dependent variables and sex or age groups as grouping variables. Sex differences of somatotypes appear to be the strongest for endomorphy, with generally higher values in women. Endomorphy in males remained virtually unchanged after 30 years of age, but endomorphy in females kept increasing up to the 6th decade, and then subsequently decreased. Virtually no differences were noted in mesomorphy and a very small difference in ectomorphy between males and females aged 18-30 years. A reduction of sexual dimorphism in all somatotype components after age 70 was also observed. The largest difference of all somatotype components appeared between age groups 18-30 and 31-40 years. Thereafter, somatotypes remained practically unchanged. Mesomorphy continued to increase until the 5th decade in both sexes, while in females, endomorphy continuously increased until their 6th decade. In the 7th and 8th decades, a decrease in mean values was observed. Mesomorphy and ectomorphy showed opposite age-related trends. Results of our study clearly suggest that in physique investigations, the somatotypes need to be studied in each sex separately, and in studies of young people, they need also to be adjusted to age.     

Sex, age and caste differences in somatotypes of Rajput and scheduled caste adolescents from the Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Somatotypes of a cross-sectional sample of 544 rural adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 17 years are described. The sample included 269 Rajput (141 girls and 128 boys) and 275 Scheduled Caste (135 girls and 140 boys) subjects. Each subject was somatotyped using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype protocol (Carter & Heath 1990). In all, ten anthropometric measurements namely height, weight, bicondylar diameters of humerus and femur, flexed mid-upper-arm and calf circumferences, and triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and calf skinfolds were taken. The mean somatotypes of the Rajput boys and girls were 1.62- 3.30-3.85 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) and 2.42-2.90-3.99 (balanced ectomorph), respectively. The mean somatotypes of the Scheduled Caste subjects were 1.51-3.02-3.74 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) for boys and 2.38-2.64-3.70 (balanced ectomorph) for girls. A one-way ANOVA revealed that females of both the caste groups were significantly (p < or = 0.05) more endomorphic than the males. The sex differences in other two components were not significant (p +/- 0.05). Caste differences, as revealed by a one-way ANOVA analysis, were not significant (p +/- 0.05) in both sexes. With the exception of the Rajput girls, the differences in whole somatotypes between those in an early phase of adolescence and those in an advanced phase of adolescence were not significant (p = 0.05). The results indicate that populations exposed to same environmental situations for a long period of time tend to show similarity in physique. A one-way MANOVA analysis, which used Wilk's Lambda as test statistics, revealed that from 11-17 years there was no significant change (p < or = 0.05) in component dominance of mean somatotypes in the boys and girls of the present sample. Among males of a majority of the Indian populations, ectomorphy dominates over endomorphy and mesomorphy from 11 to 17 years.     

Somatotype in 6-11-year-old Italian and Estonian schoolchildren

The study of somatotypes can contribute to the understanding of variability in human body build. The aim of this study was to compare the somatotypes of Italian and Estonian schoolchildren in order to evaluate factors that might lead to variability in somatotypes. The sample consisted of 762 Italian and 366 Estonian children aged 6-11 years. They were somatotyped by the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. Data on organised extra-curricular physical activity and hours of weekly training were also collected. One-way ANOVA was used to evaluate country-related variations of somatotype in each age/sex group, while factorial ANOVA was used to test the influence of country and organised physical activity on the variability of the anthropometric characteristics and somatotype components.There are significant differences in mean somatotypes between the Italian and Estonian children in many age classes and a different constitutional trend in children from the two different countries is observed. The Italian children are more endomorphic and less mesomorphic and ectomorphic than the Estonian children. On the other hand, it emerges from factorial ANOVA, that the somatotype components do not present significant variations related to organised physical activity and to the interaction between the country of origin and sport practice. Moreover, the results of the forward stepwise discriminant analyses show that mesomorphy is the best discriminator between the two countries, followed by ectomorphy.Our findings suggest that the observed differences between Italian and Estonian children could be related mainly to country rather than to the practice of organised physical activity in the two countries.     

卫藏藏族与康巴藏族的Heath-Carter法体型

运用Heath-Carter人体测量法,对云南省迪庆400例康巴藏族成人和西藏林芝507例卫藏藏族成人进行了体型研究。卫藏藏族男性(5.0-6.2-1.1)和康巴藏族男性(4.4-5.1-1.6)均为偏内胚层的中胚层体型。卫藏藏族女性(5.7-6.1-0.8)和康巴藏族女性(5.6-5.7-1.1)均为内胚层-中胚层均衡型体型。总体上看,卫藏藏族和康巴藏族体型具有一致性,也存在差异。卫藏藏族男、女性和康巴藏族男、女性都属于身体线性度低,骨骼、肌肉发达,体脂丰满的体型。卫藏藏族男性、女性比康巴藏族男性、女性的脂肪更多一些,肌肉、骨骼更发达一些,体态更丰满一些。本文从藏族族源的形成以及生活环境的视角,探讨了同为藏族的卫藏与康巴藏族之间体型的异同,和同为生活在高海拔族群间体型差异产生的原因。研究结果提示藏族具有中国北方民族的体型特征。藏族的多脂肪,骨骼肌肉发达,身体粗壮的体型特征也是对高原环境的适应。     

Biomotor status and kinesiological education of students aged 13 to 15 years - example: karate

The aim of this paper was to obtain information relevant for efficient selection in karate, based on comparison of biomotor status of male/female 7th and 8th grade students in primary school "Bija?i" from Kastel Novi and karate practitioners and non-practitioners (cadets) in Croatia. For this purpose, a sample was drawn of 352 primary school students (150 males and 152 females) and 50 karate practitioners (25 males and 25 females), all aged 13 to 15 years, and 2 morphological measures (body height and body mass) and a battery of 6 motor tests was used. A biomotor system which determines the situation efficacy in male and female karate practitioners was defined based on the comparison of test results of students from Kastela, Croatian karateka and Croatian standards, factor analysis of applied variables and discriminant analysis of those variables between karate athletes and students from Kastela. In male karate athletes, general motor efficacy in karate is based on explosive strength of jumping type, repetitive strength of the trunk and coordination, followed by flexibility, static strength of the arms, and movement frequency speed. In female karate athletes, integration of force, coordination, muscle tone regulation and speed is dominant for achieving success in karate. Female karate athletes use speed and fine muscle tone regulation in motor functioning more than male karate athletes, who use basic strength more.     

贵州革家人的体型

采用Heath-Carter人体测量法对家人成人311例(男159例,女152例)进行了体型研究。研究发现,家人男性的体型平均数为3.4-4.8-2.1,属于偏内胚层的中胚层体型;女性体型均数为4.9-4.7-1.3,属于内胚层-中胚层均衡型。家人性别间5个年龄组体型差异均具有统计学意义。随年龄增长,男性内因子值趋于变小,而且年龄组间内因子值具有明显差异。男性中因子、外因子与年龄均不相关,年龄组间中因子、外因子值的差异亦无统计学意义。女性内因子与年龄呈负相关,中因子、外因子与年龄均不具有相关(P>0.05)。内因子、中因子、外因子值在不同年龄组间的的差异具有统计学意义。家人男性与云南汉族、布依族、客家人、僜人、广西汉族体型接近,家人女性与客家人、怒族、僜人、侗族体型最为接近。在中国南方族群中,家人身体脂肪含量较多,骨骼、肌肉含量中等,身体相对粗壮些。家人与生活在南方的汉族族群体型相对接近。     

Morphological structures of elite Karateka and their impact on technical and fighting efficiency

The aim of the study was to identify the morphological structures that determine achievement of top results in karate. The study included a sample of 85 karateka competing as senior category athletes within the Croatian Karate Society, aged 18-29 years. Sixteen morphological parameters were used; technical efficiency was assessed using 8 variables, i.e. evaluation of particular karate techniques, whereas fighting efficiency was estimated on the basis of results achieved at a number of contests. Factorial analysis of morphological space revealed the presence of four major factors: factor of muscle mass, followed by skeleton transverse dimensionality, factor of skeleton longitudinal dimensionality, factor of subcutaneous adipose tissue, and factor of shoulder width determining optimal trunk proportions (athlete type) in karateka. Regression analysis showed the isolated group of morphological factors to significantly determine both technical and fighting efficiency of karate athletes. Generally, skeleton longitudinality and muscle mass, followed by skeleton transverse dimensionality were found to exert favorable effects, and adipose tissue unfavorable effects according to both criteria. Also, each individual morphological factor influenced the performance of every karate technique applied. Adipose tissue had greatest unfavorable impact, whereas shoulder width and muscle mass had favorable impact on the performance of arm techniques (kicking). Considering performance of leg techniques, skeleton longitudinality had highest favorable impact, and adipose tissue greatest unfavorable impact. Of the techniques applied, combined karate kicks, i.e. jaku zuki-mawashi geri and kizame zuki-jaku zuki were found to be the best predictors of fighting efficiency.     

西藏藏族青少年体型

为了探讨藏族青少年体型发育特征及其规律, 本文应用Heath-Carter体型法对2530名藏族青少年体型进行评价。结果发现, 藏族青少年的平均体型男性为偏中胚层的外胚层型(2.40—3.29—3.72),女性为中间型(3.65—2.87—3.32); 男性的体型以外胚层系体型为主(58.52%), 女性体型以内胚层系(32.62%)和外胚层系为主(35.40%); 随着年龄的增长, 藏族青少年的体型发展有一定的规律, 男性由中胚层-外胚层均衡型经偏中胚层的外胚层型又发展回中胚层-外胚层均衡型, 女性由中胚层-外胚层均衡型经历均衡的外胚层型发展为均衡的内胚层型。因此, 本文认为,藏族男性青少年身体的线性程度高、外形上比较瘦削、肌肉较发达; 藏族女性青少年较男性身体的脂肪含量多、线性程度相对较高。     

The effect of motor abilities on karate performance

The aim of the study was to identify the motor structures that determine achievement of top results in karate. The study included a sample of 85 karateka aged 18-29 years, competing as senior category athletes of the Croatian Karate Society. Fourteen motor tests (9 basic motor tests and 5 specific motor tests) were used to assess technical efficiency; fighting efficiency was estimated on the basis of results achieved at a number of contests. Factorial analysis of the basic set of motor variables indicated the presence of three major factors of coordination, explosive strength, and movement frequency. Factorial analysis of pooled basic and specific motor variables also pointed to three major factors of speed (basic and specific), controlled power (explosive strength and specific agility), and basic coordination. Regression analysis showed the isolated basic factors to significantly determine both technical and fighting efficiency of the karateka, with the major role of the factor of explosive strength (power). Regression analysis of pooled basic and specific factors revealed the factors of controlled speed and controlled power to predominantly determine the karateka fighting and technical efficiency. In the set of tests used to assess specific motor abilities in karate, the speed of blockade, the speed of moving in multiple directions, and frequency of foot kicking were found to be the best predictors of technical efficiency, whereas the speed of moving in multiple directions, the speed of blockade, and frequency of foot kicking were the best predictors of fighting efficiency.     

江西赣州城市成年客家人体型及其年龄变化

采用Heath-Carter人体测量法对江西城市客家人304例(男154例,女150例)进行了体型评定。结果显示:1)江西城市客家人男性平均体型值为4.0-4.6-2.0,属于偏内胚层的中胚层体型;女性平均体型值为5.0-4.2-1.9,属于偏中胚层的内胚层体型。2)男女均以30岁为体型分界点,表现为30岁前后的体型差异。3)60岁前男女体型存在显著性差异。60岁后男女体型没有差异。4)与国内其他城市汉族比较,城市客家人男性平均体型点与内蒙古汉族最近,女性与云南汉族最为接近。客家人男女体型较其他城市汉族纤瘦,身体的线性度较高。     

Relationship of body composition to somatotype.

The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship in college-aged women between somatotype using both Sheldon's ('69) and Heath and Carter's ('67) procedures, and body composition, as measured by whole-body 40K counting and body density. Sheldon's endomorphy is closely associated with height and weight; Heath and Carter's first component is significantly related to weight and body fatness. Lean body mass (LBM) as a weight or as a percent is not closely related to Sheldon's mesomorphy or Heath and Carter's second component. However, when LBM and height are used as independent variables to estimate somatotype, both variables are significantly related to Heath and Carter's second component, accounting for 61% of the variance. Thus Heath and Carter's second component is significantly associated with LBM for a given body height. Most of the variation in Sheldon's ectomorphy and Heath and Carter's third component can be accounted for by weight and height. Sheldon's somatotype for all three components is not as closely related to body composition as Heath-Carter's. Body composition, as measured by either 40K counting or body density, is found to be important in accounting for variation in Heath and Carter's first and second components.     

Somatotype of the individuals with lower extremity amputation and its association with cardiovascular risk

Anthropometric somatotyping is one of the methods to describe the shape of the human body, which shows some associations with an individual's health and disease condition, especially with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Individuals with lower extremity amputation (LEA) are known to be more vulnerable to the cardiovascular risk. The objectives of the present study are to report the somatotype of the individuals having lower extremity amputation, to study the possible variation in somatotype between two groups of amputated individuals, and to study the association between cardiovascular disease risk factor and somatotype components among individuals with locomotor disability. 102 adult male individuals with unilateral lower-extremity amputation residing in Calcutta and adjoining areas were investigated. The anthropometric data for somatotyping and data on cardiovascular risk traits (such as body mass index, blood pressure measurements, blood lipids) have been collected. The somatotyping technique of Carter & Heath (1990) has been followed. The result shows high mean values of endomorphy and mesomorphy components and a low mean value of the ectomorphy component among the amputated individuals having cardiovascular risks. The results of both discriminant analysis and logistic regression analysis show a significant relationship between somatotype components and CVD risk among the individuals with LEA. The findings of the present study support the findings of similar studies conducted on the normal population. Diagnosis of CVD risk condition through somatotyping can be utilized in prevention/treatment management for the individuals with LEA.     

中国蒙古族体型特征

采用Heath-Carter体型法研究了中国蒙古族14个族群4810例（男性2117例,女性2693例）的体型。蒙古族内因子、中因子与年龄呈显著正相关,外因子与年龄呈显著负相关,即随年龄增长,身体线性度变小,体型趋于圆粗。蒙古族男性、女性体型都集中于偏内胚层的中胚层体型、内胚层-中胚层均衡体型、偏中胚层的内胚层体型。随着年龄增长,这3种体型的出现率均与年龄呈显著正相关,即蒙古族体型有向这3种体型集中的趋势。和汉族人相比,蒙古族身体更粗壮。主成分分析结果显示,东北三省蒙古族身体线性度小,体脂发达,骨骼和肌肉量较少。在体型图上北方蒙古族的点分布密集,说明北方蒙古族彼此体型比较接近,而南方的云南蒙古族由于内因子值小、外因子大,位点与北方蒙古族相距较远。在已经开展Heath-Carter体型法研究的中国族群中,蒙古族是体脂最为发达、身体线性度很小的民族。     

运用体型方法研究中国学生 (山西) 的体格发育

采用体型方法研究人体体格特征,并与遗传、生理、运动、健康状况、营养方式等相结合,具有一定的意义。本文运用Heath-Carter人体测量体型方法研究中国学生的体型,通过对山西地区485名普通大中专男女学生及130名体育系男女学生的10个人体测量项目的体型分析,结果表明：男女学生的体型存在显著性差异;16—22岁体型发生一定的变化,且男女变化规律不同;坚持体育锻炼的体育系学生的体型与普通系学生的体型存在显著性差异,体育锻炼对体型的影响有性别之分;中国学生与国外学生比较,体型存在差异,男性表现比较明显。