Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: May | Volume: 9 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 202-208
Estimation of Back Strength and Its Correlations with Selected Anthropometric Variables and Performance Tests in Indian State and National Level Gymnasts
Kawaldeep Kaur1, Shyamal Koley2
1Research Scholar, Department of Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143005, Punjab, India
2Professor and Head, Department of Physiotherapy, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar-143005, Punjab, India
Corresponding Author: Shyamal Koley
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Gymnastic is a skillful sport. The increased participation exposes a great number of potential injuries including hyperextension and flexion in different postures and excessive stress on the back musculature. The study was conducted on purposively selected 306 (134 males and 172 females) state and national level gymnasts aged 15-25 years from Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab, India.
Methodology: The subjects were assessed for nine anthropometric variables, such as, height, body weight, body mass index, upper arm circumference-relaxed, upper arm circumference-contracted, chest circumference-relaxed, chest circumference-expanded, hip circumference and percent body fat, one performance test, viz. standing broad jump and back strength.
Results: It was observed that national level gymnasts had significantly (p<0.022<0.004) higher mean values in back strength, chest circumference-relaxed, hip circumference and percent body fat than their state level counterparts. The results of inter-correlation matrix of the studied variables showed a significant correlations (p<0.001) of the back strength with all selected traits except BMI, percent body fat, chest circumference-expanded, and standing broad jump was positively correlated (p<0.040-0.018) with height and upper arm circumference-relaxed.
Conclusion: Back strength is an important indicator which would lay emphasis on flexibility, and endurance, hence reduces the risks of injuries. Back strength was positively correlated with all selected traits except BMI, percent body fat and chest circumference-expanded.
Key words: Back strength, Anthropometric variables, Performance tests, State and national level gymnasts.